Parents can be sued for false claims against high school coaches, Minnesota high court rules

[TexasTowelie]

Parents who criticize or trash talk their kids’ public high school coaches don’t have legal protection to make false claims, according to a groundbreaking ruling issued Wednesday by the Minnesota Supreme Court.

The court’s decision, in a case involving former Woodbury High School girls’ basketball coach Nathan McGuire, said that public high school coaches are not public officials under the First Amendment. That means that such coaches who claim to have been defamed by parents have a lower bar to clear to prove their case.

McGuire’s attorney, Donald Chance Mark Jr., said the decision will matter throughout the state because it “finally provides an opportunity for coaches to defend their reputations when [parents] say things that are either untrue or, in some cases, lies.”

Public high school coaches aren’t public officials under the law, according to the court, because their decisions about playing time and benching tardy players aren’t core government functions.

Read more: http://www.startribune.com/minnesota-supreme-court-ruling-limits-criticism-of-public-high-school-coaches/559406292/

[rampartc]

1. the coaches are school teachers, nit "public officials," so the ruling makes sense

if the coach is accused of sexual misconduct it is different from "my little angel needs to play more" or other sport related complaints.

[BlueMississippi]

2. I think this should be extended to whistleblowers as well

A lot of people complain to health authorities, regulators and the IRS only to exact revenge on their targets. Nothing is found but the targets go through economic and mental upheaval as the investigations drag on.

The complainers are protected by whistle blower laws even when it is obvious that they complained only for vengeance. They should be open to civil litigation.