New JRW Lawsuit Seeks to Reinstate Chicago Little League Team as National Champions

The lawsuit alleges Little League officials should have figured out the team's violations sooner

A lawsuit filed by the parents of 13 members of the Jackie Robinson West Little League team aims to reinstate the South Side Chicago team as the 2014 national champions, an attorney for the parents said during a Monday press conference.  

The suit filed Thursday in Cook County Circuit Court names team officials, Little League Baseball, an ESPN sportscaster and the man who exposed the team's residency violations before it was stripped last year of its 2014 U.S. championship.

"We brought this lawsuit for a number of reasons but mainly to address the misconceptions unfairness related to the parents and the exploit of conduct of little league and the JRW Inc.," Attorney James Karamanis said during a Monday press conference.

The lawsuit claims Jackie Robinson West officials and the Little League "concealed the ineligibility of team members in order to reap the benefits of notoriety and media attention."

The lawsuit alleges Little League officials should have figured out the team's violations sooner. The parents say ESPN's Stephen Smith defamed them by accusing them of "perpetrating a fraud."

"Our main goal is to seek reinstatement of the JRW tournament team as champions as well as to seek compensation for the disruption and distress this has caused the children and the parents in their everyday lives," Karamanis said.

Little League International said in a statement it "stands by its decision and actions announced on February 11, 2015."

"As Little League International has not yet been served with this lawsuit and as it involves the interests of minors, at this time it would be inappropriate to comment further while the legal process evolves," the organization's statement read.

A spokesman for ESPN said their organization had not yet reviewed the lawsuit.

Bill Haley, JRW director in 2014, and Chris Janes, who reported the residency issues, couldn't immediately be reached.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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