Former Minnesota Vikings punter Chris Kluwe said Tuesday he will sue his old team over its apparent refusal to release the findings of an investigation into his claims that his LGBT activism led to his release.
Kluwe and his attorney announced the legal action at a Tuesday morning press conference in Minneapolis hours after he revealed the team’s suppression of the six-month investigation.
The Vikings retained two attorneys to investigate Kluwe’s allegations, which he detailed in a January essay for Deadspin.
Kluwe alleged that his vocal support for same-sex marriage led to his abrupt release from the team in 2013. Moreover, he said that Minnesota’s special teams coach Mike Priefer frequently made homophobic remarks.
Priefer, who remains with the Vikings, strongly denied the allegations.
The team said in a statement Tuesday that Kluwe was never promised that he would get to see the report.
An unnamed team source told television station KSTP that the Vikings opted against releasing the report because it was “damaging and embarrassing” to the franchise.
Kluwe is suing the Vikings to release a report on club behavior commissioned and investigated by the club itself?
At best, couldn’t he subpoena it and use it to bolster a case against him in employment law?
Looks like Kluwe is not actually alleging recoverable damages, so this is just about getting the Last Word with the organization generally and Mike Priefer specifically. And what’s going to happen to Priefer really, with the perpetual coaching carousel that is NFL coaching hiring?
I’m glad MN has a state-level ENDA, but I doubt very much that covers this. Still…I bet there’s some pretty good reading in that report.
Good luck with that Kluwe.
I liked what you said but you were released because of performance and the size of your contract.
The Viking brought in a rookie to do the same thing for 1/6 of your contract. It was economics pure and simple. Considering you were also released by the Raiders in less than a year adds further credence that your career was on the decline.
Stop trying to make excuses and good luck trying to get a court to get a private company to release a private report. I’m sure that will be successful.
Didn’t the Vikings release something that “was ‘damaging and embarrassing’ to the franchise” when they let Kluwe go? Why stop now?
“Kluwe is suing the Vikings…”
Well, not exactly. He is saying he is going to sue. Here is the money quote from his attorney at this press conference
“Halunen said he isn’t sure yet when Kluwe’s lawsuit would be filed or in which jurisdiction. He did say he intends to sue for religious discrimination, sexual discrimination, defamation and for tortious or wrongful interference with Kluwe’s contract.”
Apparently the Vikings are refusing to release the study they did because it looks so bad.