I had a hunch that for PR reasons alone, any legal action against the Valley Swim Club would set a speed record for reaching an out-of-court settlement. Well, my hunch was right. The club president's wife told CNN that if Creative Steps goes through with its threatened lawsuit, the club can't afford to fight it.
"Our pool could not handle a lawsuit. We don't have the money. We're just a small club. We're volunteers," said Bernice Duesler, the swim club director's wife. "I hope we can teach our children a lesson -- that you should admit errors. We should have done things differently. And if there are differences, we can overcome them."
Duesler's husband, John, famously told two Philly TV stations that letting the Creative Steps kids in would change the club's complexion and atmosphere. If his wife is right, this could potentially be one expensive gaffe.
Today's Philadelphia Inquirer seems to back up Bernice Duesler's claim. Unless the Valley Club settles and fast, a lawsuit could literally put it out of business.
Attorneys, club members, and tax records indicated that a pair of federal-court lawsuits - one filed, one promised - could cost the club more money than it has and possibly leave board members liable for civil-rights verdicts.
"The only asset we have is the land, which housing developers have been trying to buy for years," said Bonnie Bacich, a Valley Club member for 30 years.
Gee, maybe John Duesler should have been thinking about that before he stuck his foot in his mouth. Especially considering that he and the other board members could be held individually liable if this thing goes to court.
At this point now, as I see it, the only questions are how big the out-of-court settlement will be and what manner of public apology the club will have to give. This thing's gonna be over very soon--count on it.
Update: Just to be clear--I'm not in any way rejoicing over the (unlikely, I think) closure of the Valley Club. This story just highlights how mind-blowingly stupid John Duesler looks, as if his comments weren't dumb enough by themselves.
Update #2 To clarify--I don't think there's any way this will even make it to court. I believed that this would end in an out-of-court settlement, and this only confirms it.