The lawyer for ESPN’s Sage Steele asked for an extension in the aftermath of a judge’s decision to dismiss Walt Disney Co. from the anchor’s lawsuit.
Judge Jim Sicilian ruled on Oct. 12 that Steele is unable to establish personal jurisdiction in Connecticut court to sue California-based Disney. Disney-owned ESPN, which is based in the state, is now the only defendant in the lawsuit.
Michael S. Taylor, Steele’s attorney, wrote in a filing last week that he “needed to confer regarding next steps in response” to Sicilian’s decision. ESPN’s attorney supported the delay in joint filing.
Steele alleged in her lawsuit filed in April that ESPN and Disney violated her First Amendment right and that Connecticut’s free speech rights were violated after her comments on a podcast hosted by former NFL quarterback Jay Cutler in September 2021.
Steele described Disney’s vaccine mandate as “sick and scary,” and she also questioned why former President Barack Obama identified as Black on the U.S. Census.
Steele was held off the air for two days, and she claims she lost prime assignments as a result of those comments.
