In a stunning verdict that sounds more like a Hollywood script than a courtroom drama, a Connecticut jury on Wednesday awarded former New York Yankees third baseman Josh Donaldson damages expected to exceed $500,000. The payout stems from a bitter dispute with the landlord of a $55,000-a-month rental mansion in Greenwich, Connecticut, which Donaldson claimed was riddled with mold, squirrels, and a host of other uninhabitable conditions.
Donaldson, 39, a former American League MVP with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2015, moved into the sprawling 4,800-square-foot, five-bedroom home in Greenwich’s exclusive backcountry neighborhood in April 2022. He was joined by his then-pregnant wife, Briana, and their 17-month-old daughter, just weeks after being traded to the Yankees from the Minnesota Twins. The area, known for its privacy and sprawling estates, is a haven for celebrities, athletes, and financiers. But what was supposed to be a luxurious retreat quickly turned into a nightmare.
Just six weeks after moving in, Donaldson terminated the lease and vacated the property, citing a litany of issues that made the mansion unlivable. In a federal lawsuit filed in June 2022 in Connecticut, he accused the homeowner, Bill Grous, of breach of contract, describing the rental as a money pit plagued by health hazards and disrepair. Environmental testing revealed extensive Chaetomium and Aspergillus mold infestations in several key rooms, which Donaldson claimed caused his wife and daughter to develop congestion and persistent coughs.
The problems didn’t stop there. According to the lawsuit, the main floor was overrun with ants, and squirrels had taken up residence in a bedroom ceiling, entering through a hole in an exterior wall. The mansion’s showers were partially nonfunctional, and the pool was littered with shards of tile and concrete from a shoddy repair job. To make matters worse, when Grous sent workers to address the issues, they disrupted Donaldson’s sleep—an especially critical issue for a professional athlete whose performance depends on rest.
Donaldson demanded the return of his $110,000 security deposit, but Grous refused, prompting the lawsuit. Grous fired back with a counterclaim, alleging that Donaldson skipped out on $275,000 in unpaid rent after breaking the lease. Grous also accused the baseball star of discarding valuable possessions left at the property, including family heirlooms and a bottle of rare Louis XIII cognac.
The case culminated in a swift and decisive verdict on Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Hartford. After just 27 minutes of deliberation, a 10-person jury sided with Donaldson, awarding him $82,393 for incidental damages—covering substitute housing, moving, and transportation costs—and $27,000 for emotional harm. The jury also ruled that Donaldson was entitled to his $110,000 security deposit, which, under Connecticut law, will double to $220,000 due to Grous’s failure to return it. With Donaldson’s legal team planning to pursue compensation for legal fees, the total award is expected to surpass $500,000.
Craig M. Cepler, Donaldson’s attorney, expressed relief at the outcome, stating in an email, “Josh and Briana can now close this difficult chapter of their lives and move forward with their beautiful family.” Cepler praised the jury for seeing through what he called Grous’s “various excuses.”
Philip Russell, Grous’s lawyer, struck a more reserved tone. While noting that the jury rejected claims that Grous violated consumer protection laws, Russell said, “We are evaluating an appeal at this time. Obviously, we are disappointed with the jury’s verdict.”
The lawsuit adds another chapter to Donaldson’s tumultuous tenure with the Yankees, where he struggled to recapture his MVP form. His time in New York was further marred by a one-game suspension in May 2022 for repeatedly referring to Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson, who is Black, as “Jackie,” a reference to Jackie Robinson. The Yankees released Donaldson in August 2023, and he has since retired from baseball.
For now, Donaldson’s victory in court offers a quiet triumph in a saga that blends mold, squirrels, and a half-million-dollar payout—a tale stranger than fiction in the heart of Connecticut’s elite enclave.