American sports columnist (1950–2024)
Thomas John Simers [ 1] (September 2, 1950 – June 2, 2024) was an American sports columnist who worked for the Los Angeles Times from 1990 to 2013 before accepting a position at the Orange County Register where he worked until accepting a voluntary buyout.[ 2] He attended Northern Illinois University .[ 3]
Simers sued the Los Angeles Times for age and health discrimination, claiming he was pushed out from his $234,000-a-year job after he suffered a minor stroke. In November 2015, a jury awarded him $7.1 million.[ 4] After the jury's ruling, the judge nevertheless dismissed the constructive termination claim but said substantial evidence supported the age and disability discrimination claims; and the judge vacated the damages award and ordered a new trial on damages.[ 5] The California Appeals Court affirmed the judge's ruling.
Simers also worked at The San Diego Union , the Rocky Mountain News , The Commercial Appeal , the Morristown Daily Record , the Beloit Daily News , the Coeur d'Alene Press , and the DeKalb Chronicle .[ 3]
He was named 2000 California Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association .[ 6]
Simers died from brain cancer on June 2, 2024, at the age of 73.[ 7] [ 8]
References
^ "T.J. Simers Obiturary" . Dignity Memorial. Retrieved June 14, 2024 .
^ Simers, T.J. (August 11, 2012). "Learning from Matt Barkley has him atwitter" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved August 13, 2012 .
^ a b "Bio" . Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on August 15, 2009. Retrieved June 28, 2012 .
^ Bonesteel, Matt (August 20, 2019). "Former L.A. Times sports columnist awarded $15.4 million in age-discrimination case" . The Washington Post . Retrieved June 18, 2024 .
^ "Simers v. Los Angeles Times Communications, LLC" (PDF) . Los Angeles County Superior Court . January 5, 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 8, 2018.
^ "California - National Sports Media Association" . National Sports Media Association . Retrieved October 3, 2017 .
^ Holleran, Andrew (June 2, 2024). "Former 'Around The Horn' Panelist Has Died At 73" . The Spun . Retrieved June 18, 2024 .
^ Wharton, David (June 3, 2024). "Columnist T.J. Simers, known for a confrontational style, dies" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved June 26, 2024 .