A former Chicago sports radio reporter has filed suit against a high school teacher, her husband and the Niles school district that employs the teacher, among others, accusing them of launching or enabling a campaign of harassment against him and smearing his name, with one woman calling him a “defender of racism,” after the former reporter allegedly called the district to complain about a tirade launched by the teacher online during school hours against supporters of former President Donald Trump.
On Jan. 6, Matthew Rodewald filed suit in Cook County Circuit Court against Niles West High School teacher Patti-Anne Davis Ford; her husband, Corey Ford; Niles Township High School District 219; Niles West Principal Karen M. Ritter; and another woman, identified as Prissy Schmidt.
Rodewald is represented in the action by attorney John C. Kreamer, of the Kreamer Law Group, of Naperville.
Rodewald is a former reporter and announcer for Chicago sports radio station The Score 670 AM. He most recently worked in media as a reporter for Arizona television station FOX 10 in Phoenix.
According to the complaint, Rodewald’s interaction with the Fords and Niles District 219 began in January 2021. In the wake of the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol staged by supporters of President Donald Trump, seeking to disrupt congressional certification of the vote to elect Joe Biden as the next president, Patti-Anne Davis Ford allegedly posted a message to Facebook attacking Trump supporters over the riot.
In that message, as described in the complaint, Davis Ford allegedly demanded all Trump supporters call out “the vile, disgusting, and utter ridiculous White Supremacist Trump supporters,” not only on social media, but in person, at all available opportunities.
“If you stand by and say nothing, your silence creates support,” Davis Ford wrote in her message, adding “You may as well string up the noose yourself.”
The message also included one use of the obscenity “F---,” in all uppercase.
According to the complaint, the post was written and published while Ford was “publicly online while on duty and working inside Niles West High School, … and constituted a misuse of public school resources for personal political purposes and benefits,” which “could substantially disrupt the work and discipline” of the school.
According to the complaint, Rodewald left messages on Jan. 8, 2021, with both Ritter and District 219’s superintendent, making clear his intention to remain anonymous and simply relaying the content of the post and it’s (sic) inappropriate language.”
The complaint does not explain how Rodewald, of Geneva, came to see Davis Ford’s message, nor why he felt it important to call the Niles district.
He said he hoped District 219 “would address the post itself,” without taking “any negative action toward Davis Ford or her employment with the district.”
According to the complaint, Rodewald allegedly restated his concerns about the post, reiterated his position that he did not wish for Davis Ford to face professional discipline or termination, and he said he asked to remain anonymous.
However, according to the complaint, Ritter allegedly forwarded his message to Davis Ford, “without any explanation of the matter to Davis Ford.” The message allegedly included Rodewald’s name and contact information.
After that, according to the complaint, Davis Ford and her husband, Corey Ford, allegedly began subjecting Rodewald to “direct and unwanted harassment and berating messages.” According the complaint, the Fords allegedly placed harassing calls and text message to both Rodewald and his wife for months, including messages from Corey Ford stating “he was attempting to match (Rodewald’s) voice … to videos on YouTube” and asking why Rodewald had changed his phone number.
According to the complaint, Corey Ford also allegedly posted a statement on social media about Rodewald’s messages to the district, in which Ford allegedly “falsely state and accused (Rodewald) of trying to get his wife reprimanded or fired.”
According to the complaint, Ford allegedly also tagged Rodewald’s past employers and “potential employers … and destroyed any remaining elements of privacy and anonymity … with the intention of interfering with (Rodewald’s) ability to secure a job.”
According to the complaint, Schmidt allegedly responded to Ford’s post with a comment stating Rodewald was a “staunch defender of racism.”
According the complaint, Ford’s post was shared by others.
Rodewald alleges that post led to denied career opportunities, as he was allegedly passed over for jobs at several school districts and at 670 The Score.
The lawsuit accuses the Fords and Schmidt of defamation and false light; accuses all defendants of intentional infliction of emotional distress; and accuses Ritter and District 219 of negligence.
The complaint seeks compensatory damages of at least $50,000, as well as unspecified “exemplary damages in an amount that will serve to punish the Defendants and deter the Defendants from similar conduct.”