The New York Jets are facing a legal battle with their former vice president of finance, Elaine Chen. This follows a lawsuit filed by Chen against the team, alleging that she was retaliated against for cooperating with an investigation into team president Hymie Elhai regarding claims of sexual harassment.
Now, the Jets have responded with a counterclaim, accusing Chen of defamation, civil conspiracy, interfering with business relationships, and breach of contract.
Chen’s original lawsuit claimed that she and her husband, Larry Fitzpatrick, who formerly worked as the Jets’ vice president of ticket sales, were both fired in retaliation for raising concerns about Elhai’s behavior.
The Jets, however, argue that Chen and Fitzpatrick engaged in an “unlawful conspiracy” to falsely accuse Elhai of sexual harassment. They maintain that Chen and Fitzpatrick were rightfully terminated due to what they describe as “egregious, actionable, and utterly reprehensible misconduct.”
According to court documents, the Jets assert that Chen’s lawsuit is simply “a desperate extension of the conspiracy and an attempt to shakedown” the team. They claim it’s a way for Chen and Fitzpatrick to avoid the consequences of their actions, now that they are no longer receiving salaries from the organization.
The Jets have included in their court filings what they say are screenshots of text messages and emails exchanged between Chen and Fitzpatrick, which they believe provide evidence of the alleged conspiracy.
One text message included in the court documents, purportedly sent from a participant in the sexual harassment investigation to Fitzpatrick, cautions against sharing information about the message, fearing potential legal action for slander.
Another message allegedly sent to Fitzpatrick states, “Can’t f—ing wait to shoot this missile.” Other messages included phrases like “cya scumbag” and “good I hope this buries him,” along with instructions to delete certain text messages and avoid using the team’s Wi-Fi network.
One alleged text message from Chen to Fitzpatrick reads, “You can’t tell the girls, they need to be just as shocked.”
At this time, Chen’s attorney has not yet responded to requests for comment on the Jets’ counterclaim.
As a result of these claims, the Jets are seeking financial compensation from Chen, to cover legal costs and attorney fees associated with the case.
This legal battle adds another layer of complexity to the situation, raising questions about the truthfulness of the claims and counterclaims. It remains to be seen how this case will unfold and what the ultimate outcome will be for all parties involved.
