Only one recreation into their 2024 Main League Soccer season, the Portland Timbers have terminated their contract with their new jersey sponsor after a lawsuit was made public that threatened to show sexual harassment allegations towards high-level executives on the firm.
The Timbers announced back in November that they’d signed a contract with Portland-based dwelling enchancment providers supplier DaBella to grow to be the membership’s new front-of-shirt sponsor and “official home improvement partner.” The DaBella brand was to seem on the entrance of the Timbers’ dwelling, away and specialty kits, in addition to different membership attire.
However on Wednesday, February 28, The Oregonian reported that DaBella’s CEO, Donnie McMillan Jr., “is facing a lawsuit that threatens to bring to light complaints that he made unwanted advances and sexually harassed at least three female employees.” The court docket submitting was made public on Friday, February 23.
In consequence, the Timbers swiftly introduced they’d terminated their sponsorship contract with DaBella efficient instantly.
The lawsuit towards DaBella and its CEO, Donnie McMillan Jr., doesn’t accuse McMillan of sexual misconduct. Slightly, the lawsuit filed by former chief monetary officer Lowell “Greg” Swartz claims the corporate by no means paid him cash he says he was owed after he was fired in 2022.
It’s the authorized maneuvering over these claims which will expose what Swartz stated are allegations of McMillan’s inappropriate therapy of girls staff. Final week, Swartz filed a movement to compel McMillan and DaBella to supply sure inner paperwork that his lawyer stated will reveal the complaints.
“We are asking the court to order McMillan and DaBella to produce documents about at least three claims and two settlement agreements involving allegations of sexual harassment and unwanted sexual advances in the workplace,” stated Gabriel Weaver, a Portland legal professional representing Swartz.
The Timbers’ assertion got here simply hours after The Oregonian broke the preliminary lawsuit story on Wednesday. In keeping with the newspaper, the group solely realized of the allegations on Tuesday after being contacted for remark.
“The decision was rooted in the responsibility we have to our fans, supporters, partners and employees to transparently reflect and uphold the values and expectations of our community,” the Timbers’ assertion stated.
With their subsequent match arising on Saturday, March 2, at dwelling towards D.C. United, it’s unclear if the Timbers will be capable to get new kits with out DaBella’s brand on the entrance in time. For context, English Premier League membership Chelsea FC nonetheless performed with the emblem of their sponsor, Irish telecom firm Three, on their shirts for a number of weeks in 2022 after Three suspended their sponsorship on account of Chelsea’s proprietor on the time having ties to Russian president Vladimir Putin. However Chelsea had the added complication of not being able to print new shirts on account of U.Okay. authorities sanctions.
As of Wednesday night, nevertheless, jerseys with the DaBella brand on the entrance had been pulled from MLS’s official on-line retailer.
DaBella was solely the second jersey sponsor the Timbers had had since becoming a member of MLS in 2011. For the 12 years prior, the emblem of Alaska Airways was on the entrance of their shirts.
