Legal Question in Entertainment Law in Missouri

Has there ever been a case won that involves an individual sueing a school district for prejudice against them? Example: A Senior in high school plays on a softball team and her stats are clearly superior than the individual taking her place. And it is a known fact that the inferior player get to play because her parents are coaches in the district and are a part of the "click" that manipulates the softball coach. Oh, and the inferior player is a sophmore.


Asked on 9/04/09, 4:17 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys

Anthony Smith LawSmith

I am unaware of any particular case under the facts you described. But, if the softball coach were getting finacial benefit for playing an inferior underclassman there might be a possible civil case, and perhaps some criminal wrongdoing, if not violation of school district policy.

The problem with your case is:

1) How does one figure who is the inferior or superior player? Terrell Owens was an awesome football player,. but no one wanted to use him in place of an "inferior" player because of all the turmoil he caused.

2) How does one determien that the only reasone the sophomore is playing is because her parents are coaches? Could the team be rebuilding for a state championship run in ayear or two?

A case like the one you described may best be handled (if you and yrou parents have already taken this matter up wiht the coach) by going first to the principal, and if that does not work, to the school board. If that does not work, then to the state high school athletic association.

Good luck

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Answered on 9/04/09, 6:02 pm
Bruce Burdick Burdick Law Firm

You are not going to get someone to research that for free on a free forum like this. The way these are won is by school superintendent pressure, school board pressure, publicity and media attention, not by lawsuits. If you go to the local newspaper or TV and they decide you have sufficient proof of what you allege, they might give the publicity to embarass the school superintendent into forcing the coach to change. The other avenue where these can be won, if you have your facts right and can prove them, is directly with your school superintendent and/or your local school board. If you are serious about fighting this, I would do all those at once so the coach gets pressure from multiple sources. I would enlist the help of others by them going to the superintendent, school board and media. A petition signed by a majority of the other players on the softball team would help you immensely to convince either the superintendent or the school board and would get the attention of the local media if you sent it to them. If you fight this, fight it 110%, not halfway, and don't let up until you succeed. If you do succeed (or even if you don't) be gracious and forgiving. Either way, you will gain respect of your peers and coach for being a fighter and they usually want fighters on their teams to make them more competitive.

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Answered on 9/05/09, 12:10 am


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