Little League umpire sues youth organization

Seeks $25K for emotional distress, shame, humiliation and mental anguish



FOUL BALL—Youngsters take part in a previous opening day ceremony for Moorpark Little League. The youth organization that is preparing for its 62nd season in Moorpark is facing a lawsuit from an umpire who is frustrated by league officials who won’t let him officiate games. Moorpark Little League officials, though, say the umpire’s conduct has been “detrimental to the league.” Acorn file photo

FOUL BALL—Youngsters take part in a previous opening day ceremony for Moorpark Little League. The youth organization that is preparing for its 62nd season in Moorpark is facing a lawsuit from an umpire who is frustrated by league officials who won’t let him officiate games. Moorpark Little League officials, though, say the umpire’s conduct has been “detrimental to the league.” Acorn file photo

A longtime Moorpark Little League volunteer umpire is suing the local sports organization, claiming that the league violated its bylaws and inflicted emotional distress when it denied his application to be an umpire this year.

In his lawsuit, Ken Moss, a Moorpark resident and Woodland Hills-based attorney, asks the court to reinstate him to his full membership status with the organization and asks Moorpark Little League to pay him no less than $25,000 in damages.

Moss’ court filing said league officials’ “specific intent” for denying his application to volunteer was to cause him “emotional distress, shame, humiliation, and mental anguish.”

Moss would not comment on the details of the case.

“It was with great reluctance and regret that I filed that lawsuit,” he said. “I’ve been an active, devoted member of that league for over 20 years.”

Moorpark Little League leaders said they could not comment on the matter since it is an ongoing legal case.

The youth organization is run by volunteers, and players’ ages range from 4 to 16.

According to court documents, Moss—a volunteer with Moorpark Little League since 1996 who previously served on the organization’s board—resubmitted his request to serve as an umpire in March. Volunteers with the league must request to work with the organization each year.

On March 10, the nonprofit’s 16-member board of directors denied his application via email.

The action, Moss wrote in court documents, violated the league’s constitution, which states that if the organization plans to take action against a member, it must give them notice and an opportunity to be heard.

Two days later, Moss wrote the league and demanded he be given the past five years of the league’s board minutes, notices of its general meetings and subsequent versions of the league’s constitution and copies of all amendments to its rules.

After Moss requested more information about the decision, the league’s leaders told Moss that his application was denied “based on player, manager, coach and board member feedback” about his conduct that was determined to be “detrimental to the league.”

“Your alleged past actions and demeanor toward other Little League volunteer managers, coaches and the game itself is outside the spirit of Little League Baseball,” read a March 30 email from Roy Oliver, Moorpark Little League president, according to court records.

“Additionally, your alleged use of your status and intimidation tactics are not in line with the best interests of Moorpark Little League,” said the email.

Moss was invited to an April board meeting to plead his case, but that petition was denied due to his “presentation and demeanor toward other Little League volunteers” while an umpire, court records show.

Moss argues that the decision was not made in good faith and that board members did not explain what he had done wrong. He also argued that the league did not comply with its bylaws, which requires the organization to give members a 15-day notice or an explanation of their termination.

In August, Moss sent another appeal letter to the league asking it to reinstate him as a member in good standing and retroactively approve his application to be an umpire. Oliver denied the request and asked Moss to reapply in October.

Instead, Moss filed his lawsuit with the Ventura County Superior Court on Sept. 17.

As an aside in his suit, Moss also alleges that Moorpark Little League was suspended by the California Secretary of State for not filing its statement of information, a document that details a company’s activities during the previous year.

After this violation, Moss alleges that the league misrepresented itself to its parent Little League organization by stating that the nonprofit held a board meeting Nov. 20 where members approved of the league’s constitution. Moss, though, said in his suit that Moorpark Little League did not notify members of the meeting and that no such meeting or vote occurred.

Both sides are scheduled back in court Dec. 20.