PITTSBURGH — A father who has been banned from all school events by the Jefferson-Morgan School District due to alleged bullying, physical aggression and use of profanity is claiming defamation.
Virgil McNett filed a complaint Aug. 20 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania against Jefferson-Morgan School District alleging civil rights violations and defamation.
McNett, who lives in the Jefferson-Morgan School District, has several children who attend school in the district including a son who plays on a high school football team, according to his complaint. He claims that on Sept. 18, 2020, while picking his son up from a game, he "calmly" asked his son's high school football coach to resign from his position.
McNett further claims that several days later, he received a letter from the school district banning him from school grounds or any school sponsored event due to "bullying, intimidation, physical or verbal aggression" and use of profanity.
He alleges that despite repeated attempts to "rectify" the situation, the school board has failed to allow him to tell his side of the story or reconsider his suspension. McNett claims the school district's allegations are false and that they are attempting to damage his reputation and defame his character by banning his access to school events.
He alleges the defendant's actions have caused him to miss his son's senior football season and have prevented him from coaching.
McNett seeks monetary and all other proper relief. He is represented by Anthony Werner and Ryan Very of Very Law PLLC in Pittsburgh.
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania case number 2:21-CV-01064