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PA announcer prevails in Fielders lawsuit

Lake County FieldersP.A. announcer Gregory Koeppen won his lawsuit against the Lake County Fielders (independent, North American League) over unpaid payments for game-day work after team officials failed to attend Lake County Circuit Court hearings.

In December, Koeppen filed suit against the Lake County Fielders and ownership Grand Slam Sports and Entertainment.

“This court victory wasn’t so much about getting the money I was owed, but more to show the Fielders organization, Rich Ehrenreich and actor Kevin Costner that you can’t come into a community like Lake County with a dog and pony show yet refuse to payout money to those who earned it,” Koeppen said via press release. “The Lake County Field of Dreams has turned into a field of nightmares for so many of us.

“At the 12th hour, Rich attempted to try and settle this lawsuit out of court promising he would pay me if I would keep the settlement confidential from the media and not make any negative comments to the media or in public about the Fielders organization. That request didn’t even warrant a reply based on the numerous written responses I have from Rich promising to pay nor was he going to take away my right to speak publicly about the team and embarrassment he made of it not only locally but throughout the baseball world,” he added.

Koeppen says he will have to file a citation of discovery to get paid or go after the Fielder’s bank account. “When I receive payment, I plan to donate a portion of it to the Ryan & Jenny Dempster Family Foundation & the Kerry Wood Family Foundation,” says Koeppen.

RELATED STORIES: Fielders expand lawsuit, allege conspiracy; Illinois to Zion: Exactly where did the ballpark money go?; Zion official: Bottom line, Fielders didn’t pay bills; Ehrenreich suing Zion, potential Schaumburg buyers; Zion, Fielders headed to court?; Nine players, 125 fans in Zion; NAL season ending early; It’s Fielders vs. Fielders in Lake County; Fielders: We’re still in NAL — for now; Fielders tossed from North American League; Fielders skip on Hawaii road trip; season in question; Fielders game scrapped because of sub-par baseballs; Fielders may disband because of city inaction on new ballpark; Zion: Fielders owe us $185,000 in back rent; Fielders’ Zaman quits on the air; Fielders continue blame game for financial woes, adding league to mix; Fielders: Don’t blame us, blame Zion; Unpaid players revolt in Lake County; 9 traded, 14 released

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