Lawsuits Prompt Promotion Changes for MLB Teams

Two Major League Baseball teams have been slapped with lawsuits this month alleging sex and age discrimination in promotions at ball games.

The most recent lawsuit was filed May 8 by Michael Cohn in Orange County Superior Court in California against Angels Baseball, LP. The case has been filed as a class-action lawsuit.

The suit claims that at a baseball game last May on what was dubbed “Family Sunday,” Cohn was denied a free branded tote bag because of his sex. The suit also claims that consumers under age 18 were discriminated against when denied bags.

Discriminations like those in the baseball team promotions “are an epidemic in the state,” said Alfred Rava, Cohn’s attorney.

The second lawsuit was filed May 4 in Alameda County Superior Court in California by Rava himself against the Oakland Athletics. The suit claims that at an Oakland A’s game in May 2004 women received an A’s-branded plaid reversible bucket hat, but men were denied the free item because of their sex. Rava has a history of filing similar lawsuits against entertainment establishments and cultural groups in California, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Both cases were filed claiming that the teams violated the Unruh Civil Rights Act, a California law that prohibits businesses from discriminating based on personal characteristics. The two cases seek damages of at least $4,000 for each fan discriminated against.

In a sign that the suits have already resulted in changes to promotions, fans male or female, aged 18 and over, received vouchers redeemable for bags at the Angel’s game on Sunday. The bags, which were to be handed out at the game, were delayed due to shipping problems, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The promotion was also advertised on the Angel’s [http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com] Web site with the line: “Hey moms, forget those designer purses. Get yourself a 15″ x 12″ 2-in-1 tote bag…” A statement followed indicating that the item would be given to fans aged 18 and over.

And since the lawsuit was filed against the Oakland A’s, the team has allowed men into a “Baseball 101” program, which previously targeted women, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Officials for the Angels and Oakland A’s teams could not be reached for comment.

A similar suit filed by Rava last year against the San Diego Padres has been settled, Padre spokesperson Luis Garcia said.

“We don’t have any gender specific promotions anymore, or our women’s baseball clinic for that matter,” Garcia said.