By Allan Wall
08/07/2023
A college soccer player was forced off the team after she refused to kneel before a game. Now she’s receiving 100,000 dollars.
Sometimes our side can win.
From America Insider:
Former Virginia Tech soccer player Kiersten Hening says she was benched by her coach after refusing orders to kneel before a game. The soccer star, who is well-known for her conservative political views, filed a federal lawsuit against her coach and claimed this violated her First Amendment rights. Despite denying any wrongdoing, coach Charles Adair agreed to pay $100,000 as part of an agreement to dismiss a federal lawsuit.
[Ex-Soccer Star Who Refused To Kneel Gets Massive Legal Settlement, by Claire O’Hare, America Insider, August 6, 2023]
It was thought that if the case had gone to a jury trial, it would have been even worse for the defendant.
Coach Adair attempted to fight the lawsuit, but a judge agreed that her case showed sufficient evidence that her rights were violated. If the case went to trial, the consequences from a jury could have been far greater. In court documents, Hening alleged that “because she refused to kneel, he benched her, subjected her to repeated verbal abuse, and forced her off the team.”
Judge Cullen wrote, “The court concludes that there is sufficient evidence in the record supporting Hening’s claim that Adair’s actions, whatever his motives, adversely affected her First Amendment rights.”
“Whatever his motivations, the court has no trouble concluding that Adair’s conduct towards Hening, publicly chastising her, removing her from the starting lineup, and reducing her playing time, would tend to chill a person of ordinary firmness’s exercise of her First Amendment rights,” the judge said.
A report in the Miami Herald said that the settlement “asserted Hening’s First Amendment rights were violated.” Coach Charles Adir tweeted, “I am pleased the case against me has been closed, and I am free to move forward clear of any wrongdoing.”
Attorney Adam Mortara responded, “Kiersten Hening was benched for her free speech, and you are paying a giant settlement proves it.” As evidence of the college coach’s political views, he allegedly criticized the phrase “All Lives Matter” and its supporters.
Lawsuits can be effective.
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