Former MVP Wins Big After Mold, Squirrels, and Lawsuit From Yankees Days

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kristie Ackert | Last updated Jun 20, 2025 2:23 PM ET

Josh Donaldson’s time with the New York Yankees was a disappointment on the field, but apparently it was a disaster off the field as well. The former MVP was living in a moldy, squirrely nightmare during part of his time in pinstripes.

According to The New York Times, a federal jury has awarded Donaldson $500,000 in damages from his former landlord, Bill Grous, after the former AL MVP sued over a $55,000-a-month Greenwich mansion he and his family fled just six weeks after moving in.

Donaldson’s lawsuit, filed in June 2022, claimed the home was plagued with severe mold, pest infestations, and structural hazards. Environmental testing revealed Chaetomium and Aspergillus mold throughout key rooms — the same period during which Donaldson’s wife and daughter developed persistent coughing and congestion. He also reported that ants had overtaken the main floor, squirrels were living in a bedroom ceiling, and the pool was filled with broken tile and concrete debris from a botched repair.

Showers didn’t work. A hole in an exterior wall gave animals free rein inside the home. And when the landlord sent workers to address some of the issues, Donaldson said their presence disrupted his sleep — a particular concern, the lawsuit noted, for a professional athlete trying to stay healthy during the season.

The dispute intensified when Grous refused to return Donaldson’s $110,000 security deposit. Donaldson and his wife sued, while Grous counterclaimed, arguing the mold had been removed and alleging Donaldson owed $275,000 for breaking the lease.

The jury sided firmly with Donaldson, awarding him $110,000 for the deposit (which was doubled under Connecticut law), $82,393 in incidental damages, and $27,000 for emotional distress.

Donaldson had been traded to the Yankees in March 2022. Though once one of the most feared hitters in the game and the 2015 AL MVP, he struggled mightily in New York, hitting just .207 with 25 home runs and 77 RBIs over 165 games. He spent much of that time on the injured list before being released in August 2023.

Now, two years later, Donaldson finally gets a win.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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