Sources: Lawsuit against Argos quarterback Chad Kelly settled in mediation

TORONTO — A lawsuit filed against quarterback Chad Kelly and the Toronto Argonauts by a former assistant strength and conditioning coach has been settled.

Two league sources said the agreement was reached through mediation involving all parties. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because there was no official announcement of the resolution being reached.

There was also no indication of the specific details of the settlement.

The coach was seeking $80,000 from Kelly and a total of $85,714 from Argos. TSN also reported that the coach was seeking an additional $10,000 in damages.

The Canadian press does not publish the names of alleged victims of sexual harassment or assault unless permission is granted.

Last month, the CFL suspended Kelly for both of Toronto’s exhibition games and at least nine regular-season contests for violating its gender-based violence policy. The suspension followed an independent investigation into the former manager’s lawsuit against both the player and the club.

As part of the suspension, Kelly must undergo confidential evaluations by an independent expert and attend mandatory counseling sessions led by an expert on gender-based violence. Both counseling sessions and evaluations must be satisfactorily completed before the CFL will consider Kelly’s reinstatement, adding that it reserves the right to modify its discipline.

Kelly, 30, was the CFL’s outstanding player last season after leading Toronto to a league and franchise-record 16-2 record. But the Argos’ season ended with a 38-17 loss at home in the Eastern Division final to Gray Cup champions Montreal.

The CFL’s decision to launch its investigation came after the complainant filed a statement in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice alleging a pattern of harassment by Kelly, beginning with unwanted romantic advances and escalating to instances of threatening language.

The coach said the Argos did not act when told about Kelly’s behavior. The plaintiff said she was informed in January that her contract with the club would not be renewed.

The claimant joined the franchise in 2018 and said her contract had previously been continuously renewed.

Not long after the CFL announced the suspension, Kelly was on the field during Toronto’s rookie camp at the University of Guelph. He was not in kit and did not train with the club.

On May 16, Kelly announced that he was retiring from the Toronto camp, adding that he would “take full advantage of this advisory opportunity to learn, grow and improve.”

“At the same time, I want to support the Argonauts organization as it prepares for the season, and I have made the decision to withdraw from training camp to minimize distractions for the team and work to win both reinstatement to the CFL and everyone . confidence,” he said in the statement. “I’m looking forward to getting back on the field soon.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on June 4, 2024.

The Canadian Press