Football
Jeff Carlisle, U.S. soccer correspondent 4y

Mike Petke, Real Salt Lake settle lawsuit out of court

The lawsuit filed by Mike Petke against the team he formerly managed, Real Salt Lake, has been settled out of court according to a report in the Salt Lake Tribune.

Terms of the settlement weren't disclosed.

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Petke had alleged that RSL breached his contract when the organization fired him back in August of last year. He was dismissed for using an anti-gay slur against a referee following a CONCACAF Leagues Cup game against Tigres on July 24. He sought nearly $700,000, the amount remaining on his contract as well as "exemplary damages, attorney fees, costs, prejudgment and post-judgment interest, and all such other relief to which he may be entitled both at law and equity."

Petke was suspended and fined by the league shortly after the incident, but a video emerged in which RSL owner Dell Loy Hansen was speaking with fans about possibly firing Petke. Petke was dismissed shortly thereafter.

The suit was filed last September, but the case was sent to arbitration in November after Third District Judge Patrick Corum ruled that language in the league constitution, as well as Petke's contract, gave MLS commissioner Don Garber the power to arbitrate disputes between league employees.

On March 3, Petke, RSL, MLS and Garber all filed to dismiss all the claims in the lawsuit and settle out of court. Third District Judge Patrick Corum signed the order two days later.

"These dismissals, consents, and stipulations are each and all with consent of the opposing party," the motion to dismiss reads. "Each party shall bear its own costs and attorneys' fees. As a result, no claims remain in this matter and it may be closed."

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