LOUISVILLE, Ky. — In the wake of the Racing Louisville FC firing of former manager Christy Holly, a Louisville Metro councilwoman wants to limit use of non-disclosure agreements.
In the wake of the sexual harassment and assault allegations levied against Racing Louisville FC’s former coach Christy Holly, Louisville Metro councilwoman Cassie Chambers Armstrong (Dist. 8) would like the city’s future business dealings to involve fewer non-disclosure agreements. A proposed ordinance by Armstrong and co-sponsored by council member Jecorey Arthur (Dist. 4) also requires business partners to report instances of workplace sexual harassment every year. Referring to the city’s partnership with the soccer teams, Louisville City Football Club and Racing Louisville Football Club, Armstrong said, “They were in business with the people of the city of Louisville. They received $21 million of our tax-payer dollars, and that money then helped silence survivors of sexual assault, sexual harassment.”
Armstrong wants the city to do away with non-disclosure agreements for any entity receiving tax-payer funded incentives of $50,000 or more.
According to reporting from the Courier-Journal, club managers said they had signed non-disclosure and non-disparagement agreements with Holly. That allowed the club to fire Holly without disclosing the sexual assault investigation and claims levied against him from former players. The club’s initial announcement of Holly’s firing stated it was “for cause.” As details of a wider investigation into sexual misconduct within U.S. Women’s Soccer emerged, this tweet and subsequent handling of the Holly allegations has come under national criticism.
“If this were not to have broken as a story, Mr. Holly is out getting the next job, he’s coaching more players, they have no idea, the company that hires him has no idea and that’s what we have to stop in addition to not gagging survivors,” Attorney Vennessa Cantley said Monday, joining Councilwoman Armstrong and Elizabeth Martin from the Center for Women and Families. “If we continue to silence this, then those who suffer from heinous crimes do not get the services they need, do not get the care and compassion and concern they so deserve,” Martin added.
The ordinance requires a business or entity receiving city grants or funds to file an annual report disclosing the number of sexual harassment and assault complaints filed, the number of which that were resolved, the number investigated concluding assault did or did not happen or deemed “inconclusive.”
The ordinance also prevents settlement proceedings from restricting the disclosure of ‘factual information,’ outlined in a criminal or civil complaint. “You agree by accepting this money one of things you will not enter into these non-disclosure agreements or force people to sign these preemptive agreements upfront of claims,” Armstrong said. According to Armstrong, the proposed ordinance will be assigned to committee this week. A vote could happen before the end of November.
Spectrum News 1 reached out to Racing Louisville FC for a response to Armstrong’s proposal. A spokesperson for the team did not respond directly to the ordinance, but pointed to the creation of a new position with the team for a general manager to serve as a liaison between the team and the front office.
“Amid the ongoing NWSL/NWSL PA joint and independent investigation, Racing Louisville is committed to positive change that addresses workplace issues, improves our culture and allows athletes to achieve their full potential,” the spokesperson said. .