A former gymnastics coach has filed a lawsuit against a school board member, alleging defamation and emotional distress. Nicholas A. Price filed the complaint in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, on August 30, 2024, against Crystal J. Barr.
Nicholas A. Price, a former coach for the Moon Area Gymnastics Association (MAGA), accuses Crystal J. Barr, a former member of the Moon Area School Board, of defamation, false light, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. According to the complaint, Price attended an LGBTQ+ music festival in Dallas in July 2022 and was tagged in photos posted by friends on Instagram. These photos included one from a "Carnival Theme" Tea Dance where Price wore a flamboyant costume along with his friends. Although these images were not reposted by Price himself, they were visible on his friend's Instagram page.
The conflict began when parents at MAGA started raising concerns about team policies in Fall 2022. Barr’s daughter was among those who missed mandatory practices due to training at private gyms. In April 2023, Moon Area Athletic Director Ron Ledbetter informed MAGA head coach Amy Caprino that Price had posted inappropriate photos online and demanded his termination to allow MAGA continued use of school facilities.
Price asserts that he never posted any inappropriate photos and that these claims were unfounded. Despite this, tensions escalated as Barr allegedly shared these photos and videos with other parents and members of the community, labeling them as pornographic and accusing Price of child grooming—a serious felony charge.
On May 20, 2023, during MAGA's annual Spring Gym Show meeting, it became evident that Barr was attempting to dismantle the gymnastics program by smearing Price's reputation. Parents later confirmed that Barr had been disseminating these images within the community.
At a school board meeting on September 11, 2023, numerous parents spoke out against Barr’s actions. Diana Scally presented a petition signed by over 1,200 residents calling for Price’s reinstatement and an investigation into Barr’s conduct. Another parent noted that screenshots shared by Barr bore her profile picture.
Despite public outcry and evidence suggesting misconduct by Barr, an internal investigation concluded she had exercised poor judgment but did not find her actions amounted to an ethical violation or defamation since the photos were publicly available on social media.
Price seeks damages exceeding $50,000 for reputational harm and emotional distress caused by Barr's alleged smear campaign. He claims significant financial losses due to being unable to coach or judge gymnastics meets—roles he held for over fifteen years—and suffering from severe anxiety and depression.
Representing Nicholas A. Price is Andrew T. Bell from Anderson & Labovitz LLC. The case is overseen by Judge [Name] under Case ID [Case ID].