Bradford Campeau-Laurion 'God Bless America' Lawsuit Settled

by Tina Kells | July 8, 2009 at 01:28 pm

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New York Yankees fan Bradford Campeau-Laurion has settled a lawsuit against the Yankees and the city of New York after he claims he was thrown out of a game by a NY police officer for leaving his seat during the performance of Irving Berlin's 'God Bless America.'

Dubbed the 'God Bless America' lawsuit, Bradford Campeau-Laurion claimed he was subjected to religious and political discrimination when he was removed from Yankee stadium. Campeau-Laurion feels that Yankee Stadium forced patriotism on fans who may or may not want to express it by "discouraging" fans from moving around while 'God Bless America' is being performed.

The New York Yankees publicly stated that they do not enforce a "stay in your seat" policy but that previous complaints by other fans who felt it was disrespectful to move around while 'God Bless America' was being performed did prompt some deterrents to be put in place. The old Yankee Stadium had ushers who used chains to block off aisles.

The city of New York settled with Bradford Campeau-Laurion for a total of $22,001 in cash and legal fees. The New York Yankees did not settle the lawsuit but Campeau-Laurion dropped his complaint against the franchise when the city offered compensation.

Bradford Campeau-Laurion had named the Yankees and New York City in his federal lawsuit, which argued that he was a victim of political and religious discrimination and that his rights were violated at the August 2008 game.

The city did not admit liability in the settlement, which was finalized Monday. But it will give the Queens resident $10,001 and will pay $12,000 in legal fees to the New York Civil Liberties Union.

For its part, the Yankees will pay nothing but said in settlement papers that fans at the team's new stadium are allowed to move freely during the song and there are no plans to change that.

"Policy remains as it always has been: Fans are free to move about during the playing of 'God Bless America,'" said Alice McGillion, spokeswoman for the Yankee