The Crew has been a part of Indianapolis’ sports scene for nearly a decade. In recent years, the franchise has expanded, opening several carwash locations in the metro area. Its owners, Biglari Holdings, also own 556 Steak n Shake franchises. The Crew is based in Indianapolis. The board of education approved the settlement on March 26. The settlement will give the Crew $450,000, while the firm that represents the team will get $350,000.
The lawsuit claims that the DeKalb County School Board failed to properly vet Rudy Crew, which allegedly resulted in his unsuitable firing.
The suit claims that the company should have known the vehicle was unsafe. The company also names two other members of the crew, including David Turner’s estate and Jamie Henderson, the late sound engineer. It alleges that the company was negligent in not vetting the right candidate for the position.
The lawsuit alleges that Precourt failed to inspect the bus before the trip and failed to inspect the vehicle for safety. The management company claims that it should have known that the bus was unsafe. The lawsuit also names two crew members and the estate of David Turner. The sound engineer’s widow, Jamie Henderson, has also joined the suit. It is unclear if there are any other parties involved in the incident. The crew’s lawsuit is ongoing.
The DeKalb County Board of Education has approved a $750,000 settlement in the Rudy Crew lawsuit.
The board of education voted on May 11 to not offer Crew the superintendent position. They named Cheryl-Watson Harris as the new superintendent. The lawsuit alleges age and race discrimination, as well as agist comments during the selection process. The ruling is a significant victory for the family of a fallen sound engineer.
The settlement in Rudy Crew’s lawsuit will pay unpaid wages and two months of severance to the three survivors of the crew. The money will cover the two-month severance per crew member. The former sound engineer is adamant that she did not sign a contract that required her to work without pay. Ultimately, the lawsuit is a victory for the family and the children. And for the family of a late sound engineer, the settlement is a victory for her co-workers.
Ohio and Columbus were not required to sell the Crew to Precourt.
Although the team has received public funding over the years, it is still a private company and has no legal obligations to the city. Any attempt to move the Crew would probably spark a legal suit. The lease, signed in 1998, is for several more years. The lease, however, requires the stadium to find another tenant. This would not only trigger a breach of the lease but also an obligation to find a new home for the Crew.
The 86th Street location of the Steak n Shake was owned by Garber Properties, a Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based real estate development firm. The lease required the franchisee to pay the owners $9,583 a month in rent. Unfortunately, the restaurant fell behind on its rent in 2020 and did not catch up by the end of the year. Because of this, the lease was in default and the lease could no longer be enforced.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified compensation for the loss of property and injuries.
The plaintiffs name the management company of the DeKalb County School District, the bus driver, and the two crew members. The board’s decision to not offer the position to Crew was a controversial one. The board of directors named Cheryl-Watson Harris as the new superintendent, and it is unclear whether this settlement will impact the future of the team.
The plaintiffs allege that the board violated Ohio Revised Code 9.67 by choosing Watson-Harris over the Crew. They also claim that the lawsuit was based on age-based discrimination that favored older candidates. Those who want to avoid a racially biased selection process should take the steps to protect their rights. This case is a serious matter, and the plaintiffs are fighting for their legal rights.