Judge rejects former Angels employee's defamation lawsuit
An Orange County Superior Court dismissed on Monday a defamation lawsuit filed against Major League Baseball and the Los Angeles Angels by former clubhouse manager Brian Harkins, according to Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register.
A judge ruled that Harkins didn't provide sufficient evidence that he's been defamed by the publicity surrounding his firing by the Angels last March.
Harkins' attorney plans to appeal the ruling.
Harkins spent 40 years with the Angels, including the last 30 as a visiting clubhouse attendant.
The team fired him for violating MLB rules by providing pitchers with a ball-doctoring substance called "Go-Go Juice," which improved grip.
Harkins named several pitchers as those who used his substance, including Gerrit Cole, Justin Verlander, and Max Scherzer.