In case you’ve been living under a rock, baseball is a big deal in Key West, so much so that when a prominent Key West businessman recently sued the county tax collector, the complaint was not over anything related to business or taxes, but rather a baseball team for second graders.
Businessman Peter E. Batty, president/owner of United Atlantic Insurance Group, co-founder and current chairman of Gulf Atlantic Bank and owner of ICAMCO property management, has sued Monroe County tax collector Sam Steele for $250,000, claiming defamation related to the Florida Keys Bull Sharks, a nonprofit travel baseball team for kids 8 and under.
Steele is the coach and board president of the team; and, until Aug. 26, Batty, whose son played on the team until recently, was also a Bull Sharks board member, according to state records.
The defamation lawsuit was filed the same day as Batty’s removal from the board and his son’s removal from the team, according to court records.
The lawsuit claims that Steele sent one or more text messages to others involved with the baseball team that included defamatory statements about Batty. The message in question was addressed to Batty and his wife, Jessie, and reportedly was sent to both of them, as well as to other Bull Sharks board members. The text message from mid-July appears in full below:
“Peter and Jessie:
“I have put more time and energy into building this organization than most people probably realize, and as the founder, it’s my responsibility to protect its integrity and values. That includes making difficult and uncomfortable decisions when those values are repeatedly challenged.
“Sitting on this has been stressful and mentally exhausting. After weeks of reflection, conversations, and efforts to find another solution, I have decided that the Bull Sharks will move forward without your involvement. Peter will no longer serve on the Board, and we will be filling the roster spot with another player.
“I am not going into specifics here, but the ongoing issues have been thoroughly documented and considered over time. These concerns have built up for months. I have been patient, direct, and clear about expectations, but the pattern of deflection, dishonesty, and disregard for coaching decisions and the commitment other families have shown by reliably putting the team first has caused tension that others both inside and outside the team have noticed. I can’t allow that to affect the team any longer.
“It’s unfortunate that I need to send this in a group text with the Board and the head coach but putting it in writing is necessary to prevent any further misrepresentation of my words. The mutual trust, respect, and structure that holds this team together have been tested for too long, and I take ownership for allowing it to continue. Everyone has made sacrifices to support this team, and my priority is to protect what they have helped build and who we are building it for.”
That message from Steele is included as an exhibit in the lawsuit, which was filed by attorney Stuart Grossman. The legal complaint states, “While not a public figure, Plaintiff (Batty) enjoys a well-earned reputation in the tight-knit Key West community for integrity, honesty, and respect for others. People who know him or know of him know he is a person who can be trusted and counted upon to be honest and straightforward. As set forth below, Defendant (Steele) has told multiple people that Plaintiff is not such a person.”
In addition, the lawsuit claims that “(Steele) was the President. (Steele) wrote the by-laws to make him the autocratic ruler of the team.”
“As a direct and proximate result of the Statement, Plaintiff has suffered damages including, but not limited to: (a) Injury to reputation; (b) Mental anguish and emotional distress; (c) Loss of income or business opportunities; and (d) Other special and general damages to be proven at trial,” the lawsuit states.
Steele told the Keys Weekly that he had been advised by his legal counsel not to comment on the pending litigation. Batty referred questions to his attorney, Grossman, who told the Keys Weekly that he and his client are looking forward to deposing Steele “because we don’t have any examples” of the behavior that Steele accused Batty of.
“We have no explanation other than that (Steele) rules with an iron fist. You don’t have someone just appoint themselves a potentate (monarch),” Grossman said.
The lawsuit, as well as a warning letter about the potential lawsuit that was sent to Steele last month, has become the subject of much discussion on local social media channels.
On Aug. 11, Grossman sent a letter to Steele, informing him that he had 14 days to correct his alleged defamatory actions. Failure to do so would result in a lawsuit being filed against Steele for $250,000. The required corrective actions included public retractions and apologies for the statements Steele made in the message and reinstatement of Batty to the team’s board and his son to the Florida Keys Bull Sharks team.
The team’s website states, “Our purpose as a youth travel baseball team is to provide kids an opportunity to develop their skills while instilling values of teamwork, discipline, respect and dedication that will serve them well beyond the sport. Florida Keys Bull Sharks is a nonprofit youth sports organization dedicated to developing young athletes through competitive sports. At FKBS, we believe success is earned, not given.”
