Toronto Argonauts Lawsuit Settlement: Chad Kelly and Former Employee Reach Agreement
After a period of mediation, a lawsuit alleging wrongful dismissal brought against the Toronto Argonauts and quarterback Chad Kelly by a former employee has been resolved outside of the courtroom. The former assistant conditioning coach of the Argos had initially sought $80,000 from Kelly and $85,714 from the team, citing reasons related to her employment contract not being renewed in January of 2024.
The lawsuit, filed in February, included allegations of harassment and unwelcome advances by Kelly towards the plaintiff during the 2022 and 2023 seasons. The ex-employee also claimed that the team did not retain her services due to her complaints against Kelly, and that they failed to take appropriate action upon receiving a grievance.
An independent investigation conducted by Saskatchewan-based firm Buckingham Security Services on behalf of the CFL corroborated three out of six claims made by the plaintiff against Kelly under the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act. This led to the CFL suspending Kelly for a minimum of nine games, pending completion of counseling sessions and assessments by an independent expert.
While the CFL has not taken any disciplinary action against the Argonauts as of now, general manager Michael Clemons disclosed that the league had provided one official recommendation to MLSE following the investigation. Clemons also mentioned that the CFL advised the team to document all future interactions to avoid similar situations.
In light of these events, Toronto will begin their 2024 CFL season without Chad Kelly, facing off against the BC Lions at BMO Field this Sunday. The terms of the settlement between the parties involved have not been disclosed to the public.