SANTA ANA, Calif. -- A man who was denied a red nylon tote bag during a Mother's Day promotion at an Angels baseball game has filed a sex and age discrimination lawsuit against the team.
The class action claim filed by Michael Cohn, a Los Angeles psychologist, alleges that thousands of males and fans under age 18
are entitled to $4,000 in damages each because they were treated
unequally at last May's promotion. Women over 18 received the
gifts.
Angel officials said Cohn was the only person who complained
about the giveaway and that the team is proud of its promotions.
"Historically, we have tried to appeal on those special days that might be nationally noted holidays or special occasions,"
team spokesman Tim Mead said, adding he could not comment directly on the suit because he hadn't seen it. "We have tailored programs or giveaways accordingly."
The team responded to a complaint letter that Cohn wrote last
June by sending him four tote bags and a letter stating the team
"ran out of the item that day and had to order more."
"They claimed they didn't have any more bags, but my client
said there was a mountain of bags stacked so high a show dog
couldn't have jumped over them," said Alfred Rava, Cohn's San
Diego-based attorney.
Cohn could not be reached for comment.
This weekend's Mother's Day promotion will offer tote bags to
the first 25,000 fans over age 18, rather than cater specifically
to women. Mead would not say whether the change was in response to
Cohn's complaint.
Rava said the altered promotion still violates the civil rights
of fans under age 18.
Cohn's suit names as defendants the Angels and the Corinthian
Colleges, which sponsored the event through an affiliate.