Yankee Josh Donaldson sues Greenwich landlord over lease for ‘moldy’ mansion
Yankees third baseman Josh Donaldson, while playing in the house that Ruth built, was living in a house of horrors, according to a lawsuit filed Friday.
Donaldson, in a nine-page complaint filed in Connecticut Federal Court, alleges the $55,000-a-month Connecticut rental property where he relocated before Opening Day with his pregnant partner and their 17-month-old daughter was “unfit and uninhabitable for his family.”
The residence suffered from a widespread mold problem, an unusable pool, an infestation of ants and squirrels, nonworking showers, water damage to the bathrooms and faulty electrical wiring, the lawsuit claimed.
The squirrels also found a home in one of the house’s bedroom ceilings, according to Donaldson’s filing.
The sprawling five-bedroom residence sits on 4.5 acres, its furnishings a mix of “high-end European elegance and modern Art Deco,” according to a listing for the property. The master suite comes with a balcony, while the 4,400-square foot residence includes a pool and a pricey sound system with interior and exterior speakers.
The Bronx Bomber fired his first legal beanball at landlord Bill Grous in late April, detailing the problems in a letter, and received no response, court papers said.
The 2015 American League MVP and three-time all-star needed to find a place quickly after he was traded to the Yankees from the Minnesota Twins shortly before the season began.
He settled on the suburban property, paying an additional $110,000 security deposit before arriving with his family in early April. Donaldson, a 12-year veteran, came to the Yankees in a trade for Gary Sanchez and Gio Urshela.
Donaldson’s lawyer finally sent Grous a May 17 notice that the lease was terminated and followed up with a request to return the security deposit, the court papers said.
But Grous’ lawyer said the money would not be returned — and the ballplayer’s attorney says Donaldson has yet to see a penny.
The Major League veteran now wants $220,000, or twice the security deposit, from his estranged landlord, along with compensation for the costs of paying more money for a new residence on short notice, court documents said.
He also seeks punitive damages and wants the landlord to cover the cost of his legal fees in the case.
