A court fight over who owns the rights to the name of a youth football program for middle school-age children in suburban Park Ridge has been ratcheted up, as a new claim in federal court alleges administrators of the program mismanaged the program’s finances and have refused to refund more than $50,000 in donations allegedly given specifically to support a now-folded travel squad.
Those allegations of misconduct were leveled in a claim filed on June 8 in Chicago federal court against Park Ridge Sports Inc. and two executives for the organization. The claim was filed by a group identified as the Park Ridge Travel Falcons, and several individuals, identified as volunteer members of the football club’s board.
The dispute first landed in federal court this April, when Park Ridge Sports sued the Park Ridge Travel Falcons, alleging the group had violated its trademark rights to the name “Park Ridge Falcons.”
For more than 50 years, Park Ridge youth football players have been able to participate in two different levels of the sport. At the level known as “Division 1,” the program fielded a team known as the Falcons. The travel team built its roster based on tryouts, and players could be cut, based on performance.
Games were stringently officiated and the team would travel throughout the region and elsewhere in the U.S. to play other teams at a similar competitive level.
Additionally, court documents note that level of the game required a relatively large degree of participation and “financial commitment” from parents.
For others, the program offered “Division 2,” which was open to all who wished to play football. Players at that level were divided into teams, which competed against each other within the program. It required a lesser level of participation from parents, and cost less, as well.
The two levels merged in 2015, coming under the management of one board to manage both the travel squad and the “Division 2” league.
In 2019, court documents indicate the league included more than 1,000 families, and was supported by more than 200 volunteers.
However, earlier this year, Park Ridge Sports moved to eliminate the travel squad.
When a group led by three former volunteer board members and the former travel football director moved to create a Park Ridge Falcons independent travel team, Park Ridge Sports filed suit, alleging it owned the rights to the name “Park Ridge Falcons.”
In the lawsuit, Park Ridge Sports asked the court to shut down the competing Park Ridge Falcons travel group; give Park Ridge Sports control over the name and online presence for the “Park Ridge Falcons;” and award Park Ridge Sports three times of whatever profits the travel squad may earn from their endeavor.
Park Ridge Sports is represented by attorney Richard B. Biagi, of the firm of Neal & McDevitt LLC, of Northfield.
In response, the Park Ridge Travel Falcons filed a counterclaim in federal court, asserting they were sued as part of a campaign of “misinformation” and in retribution for questioning the financial decisions of the Park Ridge Sports board.
They have claimed the Park Ridge Sports organization allegedly mismanaged the league’s finances, and failed to file required tax returns, resulting in penalties and interest. They further alleged the league operated at a loss in 2019.
In the counterclaim, they assert Park Ridge Sports has refused to provide “detailed” spending reports to answer questions regarding that organization’s financial decisions.
The counterclaim specifically asserts Park Ridge Sports did not use donations totaling $52,600 from two volunteer board members for “football helmets and equipment or football jerseys,” as instructed by the donors. The organization is also accused of failing to provide documentation showing how that money was spend, the counterclaim said.
The counterclaim specifically accuses Park Ridge Sports of breach of contract in its alleged handling of the donations.
The counterclaim seeks unspecified “money damages as appropriate,” plus attorney fees.
Park Ridge Travel Falcons is represented by attorneys James L. Wideikis and Shawn M. Staples, of Much Shelist P.C., of Chicago.