Former Cub sues baseball camp over name usage

Former Chicago Cub and Chicago White Sox pitcher Steve Trout is suing a North Side baseball camp, claiming the academy is unlawfully using his name in its advertisements.

Trout, owner of Trout Baseball Academy, LLC, filed the lawsuit Thursday in Cook County Circuit Court, alleging the Lincoln Park Baseball Academy, LLC, used the name “Steve Trout” in the source code for its website, diverting visitors toward their site and away from his.

“This was done for the sole purpose of obtaining a commercial and monetary advantage over its competitor,” the lawsuit alleges.

Both Trout Baseball Academy and Lincoln Park Baseball Academy play out of Oz Park at 2021 N. Burling St., but the camps are not affiliated.

Lincoln Park Baseball Academy does not have the right to use the name “Steve Trout,” but by including it in its search criteria, the camp has usurped and diverted clients that would normally have contacted Trout Baseball Academy, the suit alleges.

The four-count lawsuit, which claims tortious interference with a prospective economic advantage and violation of the right of publicity act, is seeking at least $200,000 in damages.

A representative from the Lincoln Park Baseball Academy could not be reached for comment Thursday evening.