(670 The Score) Settlement discussions between the representation for former player Kyle Beach and the Blackhawks in his sexual abuse lawsuit against the team have gone “absolutely nowhere” as the organization lacks “empathy,” attorney Susan Loggans said Friday on the Parkins & Spiegel Show.
Part of what Loggans is seeking in compensation is career lost earnings for Beach, whose lawsuit accused former Blackhawks video coach Brad Aldrich of sexually assaulting him in 2010. An independent investigation by the Jenner & Block law firm found the Blackhawks mishandled and largely ignored Beach’s allegations.
Loggans declined to reveal the exact total she and Beach are seeking in a settlement but added their party did research to create a range based off of career earnings for the No. 1 pick in the 2008 NHL Draft, Lightning center Steven Stamkos, and the No. 22 selection that year, winger Jordan Eberle. She chose those two because Stamkos is a star and Eberle has been what her group considered closer to an average player. Beach was the No. 11 pick in that 2008 draft. He never played a regular-season game in the NHL.
Stamkos has earned $103.7 million in the course of his 14-year career. Eberle has earned $57.6 million over 13 seasons in the league. The Blackhawks have requested a mediator to handle the discussions.
"I can't believe the Wirtzes are this oblivious to what's happening, because how could anybody bury their head in the sand and be so unconcerned about real human beings?” Loggans said.
"They just don't get the gravity. It's like they're saying, 'Man up and just forget about it.’ Which is what was said to Kyle by the therapist they hired, if you want to call him that. That is exactly what they said. ‘So this happened to you. Just take it. It’s just part of life. It’s your fault. Just go on and don’t think about it again.’
“They're certainly not showing any empathy here."
The Jenner & Block investigation was released on Oct. 26. One day later, Beach publicly revealed himself as John Doe in the lawsuit.
Following the investigation, Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman and senior vice president of hockey operations Al MacIsaac each stepped down from their positions. None of the individuals found to have failed in reporting Beach’s allegations back in 2010 currently work for the Blackhawks.
The investigation found Blackhawks chairman Rocky Wirtz and CEO Danny Wirtz, the latter of who wasn’t with the organization in 2010, were unaware of Beach’s allegations until the lawsuit was filed this past spring.