CANTON, Ohio — Former coaches from Canton McKinley High School have initiated legal proceedings, claiming that the school district and its insurance provider orchestrated a settlement in a case that has drawn public attention for its alleged violation of a student’s religious rights. This legal action unfolds amid continuing controversy following the dismissal of the coaches due to an incident involving the forced consumption of food conflicting with a player’s religious beliefs.
In June 2021, the head coach Marcus Wattley, along with six assistants, were terminated after accusations surfaced that they had coerced a player into eating pepperoni pizza, despite his adherence to Hebrew Israelite religious principles which forbid pork consumption. The player’s family and their legal representation argued this act was compelled as punishment for the student missing a weight training session, thus sparking a series of legal challenges against both the coaches and the district.
Subsequently, the family pursued legal claims against the Canton City School District, alleging the violation had infringed upon the student’s First Amendment rights. This led to an out-of-court arrangement where the school district agreed to compensate the family $125,000 in early 2023, a figure significantly higher than the family’s initial request of $71,500.
The settlement did not involve the former coaching staff, who by then had been removed from the federal lawsuit, leaving them without influence over the settlement terms. This aspect forms a core grievance in the new lawsuit filed in the Summit County Court of Common Pleas, as the coaches’ attorney, Peter Pattakos, claims the settlement was a tactical move to implicitly validate the player’s allegations, despite the district not formally admitting any wrongdoing.
Pattakos accuses Canton Superintendent Jeffrey Talbert, attorney Kathryn Perrico, and the Liberty Mutual insurance company of colluding with the family’s lawyer, Ed Gilbert, to undermine the ex-coaches’ pending lawsuit against the school. This, Pattakos argues, was strategically aimed at presenting a semblance of guilt on the part of his clients by agreeing to a high settlement amount.
In addition, Pattakos has challenged the accuracy of the events leading up to the dismissal, contending that alternative meal options were offered to the student and contradicting claims that the student was coerced or taunted. This assertion, however, was countered by video evidence released by Gilbert, which reportedly displays the incident and demonstrates the student facing ridicule from peers.
Parallel to these legal battles, Wattley along with five of the ex-assistant coaches have also filed a defamation lawsuit in Stark County against the player’s family and district officials, including Superintendent Talbert, who is represented by Perrico in this case.
The disputes pull into sharp focus the intricate dynamics of educational governance, legal accountability, and community trust. The outcomes of these legal actions may well set precedents for how sensitive issues of religious rights and school authority are handled in educational settings across the nation.
Khalil Walker, the former McKinley player embroiled in this controversy, has since moved forward with his athletic career and is currently playing for Coffeyville Community College in Kansas. As the legal proceedings continue, the community awaits further developments, hoping for resolutions that uphold justice and fairness in a case that has captured the attention of many beyond the local community. The implications of this case extend into the realms of educational policy, religious rights protections, and the responsibilities of educational staff, potentially influencing future cases of a similar nature.