Judge Dismisses Rick Butler's $250 Million Suit Against Nancy Hogshead Under First Amendment
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jun 25
Judge Dismisses Rick Butler's $250 Million Suit Against Nancy Hogshead Under First Amendment
1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 25
Summary
U.S. Magistrate Judge Young B. Kim granted summary judgment last week to Nancy Hogshead, Champion Women and Deborah DiMatteo, throwing out Rick Butler's $250 million lawsuit in Chicago.
Butler, treated as a public figure, could not show the “actual malice” required for defamation-style claims over Hogshead's 2017 and 2018 statements about allegations he sexually abused teenage players in the 1980s.
The ruling said the defendants' advocacy was fully protected speech on a matter of public concern—the danger Butler posed to young girls—and that his lost revenue flowed from documented misconduct, not a conspiracy.
Hogshead called the decision a win for survivors and athlete safety, arguing sports groups must share disciplinary findings more widely when banned coaches still have access to athletes; Butler's lawyer said they strongly disagree with parts of the ruling.