Former Chicago Blackhawks independent contractor, Nina Sanders, has filed a lawsuit against Blackhawks chairman and CEO Danny Wirtz and the Chicago Blackhawks Foundation for breach of oral contract, fraud, and violating the Gender Violence Act. Sanders accuses the organization of failing to investigate and report sexual assault allegations against multiple individuals during her time with the team.
According to the lawsuit, Sanders claims that she entered into an oral contract with Wirtz, who promised to advocate for changes to the team’s logo and fulfill a list of promises related to the Native American community. However, Sanders alleges that Wirtz failed to keep his promises and attempted to silence her by isolating her position within the organization.
Sanders further alleges that in June 2021, a person affiliated with the Blackhawks made inappropriate sexual advances towards her, including unwanted flirting and touching without her consent. The lawsuit states that the Blackhawks did not investigate or report the alleged behavior to the police. In November 2021, Sanders claims that the same person attempted to force her into his hotel room by grabbing her arms, and later sent her a video of himself masturbating.
Additionally, the lawsuit alleges that another person with ties to the Blackhawks sexually assaulted a team employee. The employee reported the assault to Sanders’ boss, and Sanders also reported it to her boss and other team employees, including Wirtz. However, none of the team employees reported the assault to the police, and the team maintained its relationship with the accused person.
In November 2022, according to the lawsuit, a Blackhawks dancer approached a woman in a suite at United Center, despite previous allegations of rape made against him by the woman. The suit claims that the Blackhawks did not report the incident or take any action.
Sanders’ employment with the Blackhawks ended in June 2023 when Wirtz emailed her to say that the organization would continue to review her sexual harassment complaints but was ending their business relationship.
In response to the lawsuit, the Blackhawks issued a series of statements asserting that Sanders worked as an independent contractor with the organization from 2020 to 2023 and that her contract was not renewed due to operational issues and feedback from external partners. The team denies Sanders’ allegations, stating that they conducted a thorough investigation and found insufficient evidence to substantiate her claims.
The lawsuit raises important concerns about the handling of sexual assault allegations within the Blackhawks organization. It highlights the need for organizations to take such allegations seriously, conduct thorough investigations, and support victims. The case also sheds light on the challenges faced by individuals who speak out against powerful institutions, and the potential consequences they may face, such as isolation and termination of their employment.
These allegations come at a time when professional sports organizations are facing increased scrutiny regarding their handling of sexual misconduct cases. It serves as a reminder that systemic issues need to be addressed to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all individuals involved in sports. The outcome of this lawsuit will not only impact the Blackhawks but also serve as a precedent for how other organizations handle similar cases in the future.