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Referee who forced N.J. wrestler to cut dreadlocks alleges 'emotional distress'
Whoops. Much too old for LBN.
DefamatoryCowHat Retweeted
Grown man who forced a child to cut his hair in order to compete claims emotional distress.
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A referee who forced a New Jersey high school wrestler to cut his dreadlocks or forfeit a match has taken the first step toward filing a lawsuit alleging defamation of character and emotional distress.
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Referee who forced N.J. wrestler to cut dreadlocks alleges 'emotional distress'
The referee claims he "properly performed his duties" in requiring the wrestler to cut his dreadlocks at a match — a claim disputed by a lawyer for the athlete's family.
March 19, 2019, 3:05 PM EDT
By Janelle Griffith
A referee who forced a New Jersey high school wrestler to cut his dreadlocks or forfeit a match in December has taken the first step toward filing a lawsuit alleging defamation of character and emotional distress. ... Alan Maloney, who is white, claims in a legal filing that he "properly performed his duties as the referee and fairly applied the rules governing a wrestling match" when he ordered Andrew Johnson, a black varsity wrestler from Atlantic County to cut his hair before a match.
A video of the haircut went viral and drew widespread condemnation, including from New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, Olympic wrestler Jordan Burroughs and the state ACLU. ... It showed Johnson looking dejected as a trainer from his school, Buena Regional High, sheared his dreadlocks. The state's Civil Rights Division and its interscholastic athletic association started separate investigations into the incident.
In the legal filing dated March 6 and sent to more than a dozen defendants this month — including the borough of Buena, its high school and school district, and the New Jersey Attorney General and New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association — Maloney lists his injuries, damages or losses as defamation of character, loss of income and emotional distress. ... Maloney defended his actions in the filing, saying Johnson's hair and headgear were not compliant with regulation at the match. They are his first public remarks about the incident.
Buena school officials said after the match and the response to the video that Maloney would no longer referee any meets involving its athletes and the state interscholastic athletic association barred him from officiating at meets pending the outcome of the two investigations.
....
Maloney is seeking $100,000 in damages.
The referee claims he "properly performed his duties" in requiring the wrestler to cut his dreadlocks at a match — a claim disputed by a lawyer for the athlete's family.
March 19, 2019, 3:05 PM EDT
By Janelle Griffith
A referee who forced a New Jersey high school wrestler to cut his dreadlocks or forfeit a match in December has taken the first step toward filing a lawsuit alleging defamation of character and emotional distress. ... Alan Maloney, who is white, claims in a legal filing that he "properly performed his duties as the referee and fairly applied the rules governing a wrestling match" when he ordered Andrew Johnson, a black varsity wrestler from Atlantic County to cut his hair before a match.
A video of the haircut went viral and drew widespread condemnation, including from New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, Olympic wrestler Jordan Burroughs and the state ACLU. ... It showed Johnson looking dejected as a trainer from his school, Buena Regional High, sheared his dreadlocks. The state's Civil Rights Division and its interscholastic athletic association started separate investigations into the incident.
In the legal filing dated March 6 and sent to more than a dozen defendants this month — including the borough of Buena, its high school and school district, and the New Jersey Attorney General and New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association — Maloney lists his injuries, damages or losses as defamation of character, loss of income and emotional distress. ... Maloney defended his actions in the filing, saying Johnson's hair and headgear were not compliant with regulation at the match. They are his first public remarks about the incident.
Buena school officials said after the match and the response to the video that Maloney would no longer referee any meets involving its athletes and the state interscholastic athletic association barred him from officiating at meets pending the outcome of the two investigations.
....
Maloney is seeking $100,000 in damages.
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