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Baseball Coach Sues South Dakota American Legion for Defamation
Luke Norden alleges false claims in a 2024 letter caused lost coaching roles, a failed background check, and damages including lost income and emotional distress.
- On Jan. 14, Luke Norden, longtime Mitchell baseball coach, filed a Davison County suit naming South Dakota American Legion and Christopher Patrick Van Delist, alleging defamation and tortious interference.
- Post 22 American Legion was told by Van Delist in the Nov. 21, 2024, letter that Norden and the Mitchell Baseball Association were `unfit to work with minors`, and he `would not be eligible to serve as coach`.
- A June 2025 background-check company report found no records against Plaintiff Norden and recommended acceptance, yet the American Legion website listed a `failed` status, and Rapid City Post 22 declined to interview him, causing alleged lost income and emotional distress.
- The lawsuit was filed three days after the Legion approved the Palace City Baseball Association to play Legion baseball in Mitchell, and the South Dakota American Legion has 30 days to respond.
- Norden's prior acquittal and lengthy coaching tenure frame the current complaint; Judge Bucher ruled prosecution failed to prove he was a mandatory reporter or that a felony occurred in 2024.
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16 Articles
16 Articles
Duluth News Tribune+13 Reposted by 13 other sources
Baseball coach sues South Dakota American Legion for defamation
The civil suit says Luke Norden pursued a job as head coach of the Rapid City Post 22 baseball team, but the Legion said he was not eligible to serve as coach.
·Cherokee County, United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources16
Leaning Left0Leaning Right11Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution85% Right
Bias Distribution
- 85% of the sources lean Right
85% Right
15%
R 85%
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