Jennifer Shahade Files Lawsuit Against US Chess For Misconduct And Retaliation

Two-time U.S. Women's Chess Champion WGM Jennifer Shahade has filed a major lawsuit against US Chess, its president Randy Bauer, and chess writer Peter Tamburro, alleging defamation, retaliation, and discrimination after her public allegations of sexual misconduct.

The six-count complaint, filed in the New Jersey Superior Court, alleges serious misconduct within US Chess. Shahade's claims include defamation, discrimination, retaliatory actions, the spread of false information, and invasion of privacy. 

I am fighting back against campaigns to silence me and retaliate against me for speaking up about sexual violence in chess.

I have fought many battles on the chess board and the poker table. This is the most important one. pic.twitter.com/0ZiNOPI9N5

— Jennifer Shahade (@JenShahade) July 17, 2024

I have fought many battles on the chess board and the poker table but this fight for a better chess world is the most important one.

 —WGM Jennifer Shahade

Background

The 43-year-old woman grandmaster is an outspoken two-time U.S. Women's Chess Champion, commentator, chess author, and professional poker player. In early 2023, she sent shockwaves through the chess world by alleging that GM Alejandro Ramirez sexually assaulted her twice. The grandmaster resigned from his role as a prolific commentator and coach at the Saint Louis Chess Club following a bombshell report by The Wall Street Journal, where eight women alleged abuse by Ramirez. He is now permanently suspended by US Chess.

Shahade's tweets ignited a MeToo movement within the chess community, prompting several women to share stories of abuse. Among them is WIM Sabrina Chevannes, who said it caused her to quit playing chess professionally. Another is Ellen Carlsen, sister of the former world champion, who reported a case of harassment after Shahade's tweets.

Later, more than 100 women signed an open letter titled We Have Remained Silent For Too Long denouncing sexist behavior and sexual violence. One of them was FM Yosha Iglesias, a professional trans woman chess player and coach who detailed several instances of sexual harassment.

Time’s up. pic.twitter.com/ItOv73lTX7

— Jennifer Shahade (@JenShahade) February 15, 2023

Failure To Act, Negligence, And Retaliation

Shahade's lawsuit claims that US Chess's failure to act on her reports of serious misconduct in 2011 and 2014 allowed Ramirez to continue in positions of influence and access young players, including minors. She argues that this failure is emblematic of US Chess's broader negligence in handling sexual misconduct allegations. 

In September, Shahade resigned from her position as Director of the US Chess Women's Program, citing she was greeted with "hostility instead of support" and was "consistently minimized or ignored" after coming forward with the allegations.

Her lawsuit alleges that US Chess President Randy Bauer failed to take proper action in the case. According to the complaint, Bauer not only failed to act on the warnings but also actively participated in efforts to retaliate against Shahade by releasing confidential information about her complaints and those of other victims.

This retaliation for making complaints about sexual assault, gender discrimination, hostile work environment, inaction to correct sex assault, sex victimization, gender bias, and the like, further fueled a conspiracy to attack her and her reputation was one which attempted to humiliate her publicly by releasing confidential details of her complaints and the complaints of other victims. 

The complaint then points to a Facebook comment by Bauer:

Chess.com previously covered how Bauer faced calls for his resignation after comments made on social media regarding the case.

'Derogatory And Factually False Article'

Another critical element of the lawsuit is Shahade's claim that US Chess conspired to retaliate against her by endorsing 2023 Chess Journalist Of America Pete Tamburro's article Due Process Part II, published in the February 2024 issue of the American Chess Magazine.

US Chess published a statement, saying: "We are grateful to Mr. Tamburro for having asked the hard questions, learned the facts, and set the record straight."

However, Shahade argues that Tamburro's article is "derogatory and factually false," which exhibited discriminatory cognitive biases against her as a female whistleblower.

Tamburro's article, fully adopted by US Chess, is also filled with, at the very least, discriminatory Cognitive Bias, specifically implicit bias or implicit stereotype bias against a female survivor whistleblower, making this publication discriminatory based on gender, and/or retaliatory based on gender and/or in part or in full motivated by discriminatory intent or motivated to retaliate against a female whistleblower.

She contends that this article was part of a broader effort by US Chess to silence her and discredit her public disclosures about Ramirez and other instances of misconduct within the organization.

The alleged independent investigatory article by Tamburro was intentionally false especially where it downplayed Shahade complaints about child sex victims.

Shahade highlighted several "intentional mistakes and reckless errors" in the article. She also claims that US Chess officials leaked Shahade's confidential victim reports to Tamburro to use for retaliation.

Shahade Seeks Damages And Reforms, Insurance Company Also Sues

Represented by the office of high-profile attorney Linda Kenney Baden, Shahade is asking the court for a declaratory judgment and a permanent restraining order against the defendants. She seeks compensatory and punitive damages, with the amount to be determined at trial.  In addition, she is asking for US Chess to implement stricter policies and procedures for handling sexual misconduct.

US Chess, including Bauer, has also become the subject of a lawsuit by their insurance company, West Bend, which is seeking a declaratory judgment that it does not have the duty to cover the costs of the case against Shahade. 

In a brief comment provided to Chess.com, US Chess said it would not comment on the case but also denied the allegations. "We will defend ourselves vigorously," a spokesperson said.

Peter Tamburro and Randy Bauer did not respond to Chess.com's request to comment on this story.