School District Settles Lawsuit with Peters Parent

The Post-Gazette is reporting a federal suit between a Peters Township resident and a former basketball coach has been settled. 

Diane Wickstrom claimed her civil rights were violated when she was barred from her daughter, Marissa's basketball practices and games.

As part of the settlement, approved Friday by U.S. District Court Chief Magistrate Judge Lisa Pupo Lenihan, insurers for the township and district will pay Wickstrom and her daughter a total of $63,500, the newspaper reports.

The Wickstroms' attorney, Thomas J. Farnan, claimed his client was wrongfully barred for almost two years under a "false premise" and told the paper Tuesday that his clients are "vindicated."

At Monday night's school board meeting, an agreement was approved by a 5-4 vote, with members Lori Cuervo, David Hvizdos, Lynn Erenberg and Cindy Golembiewski dissenting.

We know Wickstrom sued in October alleging defamation and violations of her right to free speech and equal protection.

She claimed she was singled out after sending a 2009 email to the township's parks and recreation board that raised concerns about her daughter's seventh-grade basketball team, part of the Peters Township Basketball Association, according to the P-G.

A policy was enacted that banned parents from practices of the seventh-grade girls travel team, which was followed by a letter by the Peters Township to Wickstrom warning that she would be cited or arrested if she did not comply.

On Nov. 21, Peters rescinded the ban on Wickstrom—the paper reports.

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