By I. Hansana, Jadetimes News
Shane Heal Sues Sydney Flames Over Defamation Claim Following Suspension
Shane Heal, an Australian basketball legend, has initiated a defamation lawsuit against the WNBL's Sydney Flames after a media statement issued by the club in the wake of his suspension. Heal was suspended from his coaching role in January 2023 due to multiple player complaints of bullying.
The Flames's statement emphasized that the "welfare and safety" of the players were the primary concerns, which Heal claims was "humiliating." Following his suspension, Heal sought to prevent his termination and secure employee entitlements through a Federal Court case, which was ultimately dismissed.
Now, Heal has brought the issue to the NSW Supreme Court, focusing on the club’s media statement. The Flames’s lawyer, Matthew Richardson SC, argued that this new defamation claim is an “abuse of process,” noting that it was inappropriate after Heal’s Federal Court case failed.
Heal's lawyer, Kieran Smark, contended that the previous case centered on “industrial issues” and that combining it with the defamation claim would have caused significant delays and increased expenses. Smark highlighted that Heal's financial stability was severely affected by the media statement, which led to the loss of speaking engagements.
Heal has denied all allegations of wrongdoing, labeling the bullying complaints as a "smokescreen" for the club's intent to remove him. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Rothman has reserved judgment on whether Heal’s defamation case will proceed, with a decision expected in the coming months.
Heal is also the father of Shyla Heal, who faced a swift dismissal from the WNBA's Chicago Sky shortly after being drafted, a decision that Heal publicly commended his daughter for handling with resilience.