HAZING CASE: Civil suit looms for Wilson School District

Local News

July 8, 2009

By Bill Wolcott The Niagara Gazette Wed Jul 08, 2009, 08:44 PM EDT

Lawyers for the alleged victims in the Wilson baseball team case are preparing to take their civil lawsuits to court against the school district.

A jury trial made up from a Niagara County pool is expected. Attorney Terry Connors represents parents of two junior varsity players. Chris O’Brien and Steve Boyd represent the parents of one. The lawyers would not divulge what monetary damages the families are seeking, and no trial date for the lawsuit has been set.

“If there were a way for the jury to turn back the clock, the parents would take that in a heartbeat,” O’Brien said Wednesday. “No one wants to be involved in a lawsuit.”

At the coaches’ news conference Wednesday, Kary Sidote, mother of player defendant Christopher Sidote Jr., called the civil suit “baloney” and said the lawsuit is about money.

“They’ve even put their kids on the line for cash,” she said. “You want to know what the main motivation is? They want money.”

Chris Sidote Sr. offered: “The student body has moved past it. It’s the parents.”

However, O’Brien said his firm has made overtures to the school district and tried to get the matter resolved short of a lawsuit. “Whatever the jury decides, we don’t want a penny more,” the lawyer said.

O’Brien said the families of the victims have incurred expenses, including counseling, since charges were brought against three varsity players and two coaches. Connors said the civil suit was not affected by charges being dismissed against coaches William Atlas and Thomas Baia by Town Justice George Berger.

O’Brien said the facts show that boys were being hazed on the back of the bus, that one of the charged boys had been hazed before, and that there were no coaches on the back of the bus. He asserts there was negligence, and that the civil case is against the school district, not the players or the coaches.

“We stand by our kids,” Connors said. “We stand by their statements and we’re moving forward.

“We’re going to be filing a lawsuit in next two weeks.”

Text Only | Photo Reprints

Local News

BODY FOUND: Falls police ID missing woman
Falls Police say the body of a woman, found in dense brush in a field off of 102nd Street, is that of 67-year-old Judith Burr.

February 8, 2012 4 Photos
SLIDESHOW: Volunteers Search for Judith Volunteers gathered on 102nd Street in Niagara Falls to search for the missing Judith Burr, 67. Shortly after the search began, the body of Judith was found in the dense brush just east of 102nd Street.
February 8, 2012 1 Photo
NCIDA declines One Niagara's request for tax help
It’s a no-go for a proposed tax break at One Niagara.
At least for now.

February 8, 2012 1 Photo
Marijuana mystery on Michigan Avenue solved
The mystery surrounding a Michigan Avenue marijuana grow house has been solved.
And a Falls man has been charged with running the pot farm that was found there in July.

February 8, 2012 1 Photo
Crack dealer taken down on Orleans Avenue
Falls Narcotics Division detectives took down an Orleans Avenue crack dealer, literally, on Tuesday.

February 7, 2012 2 Photos
Historic stone chimney move could be costly
City officials are dealing with some sticker shock after receiving an initial estimate for what it might cost to move an historic stone chimney to a new location.

February 7, 2012 1 Photo
One Niagara tax request up for vote
The owners of the One Niagara building may find out today if they qualify for a tax break through the Niagara County Industrial Development Agency.
NCIDA board Chairman Henry Sloma said One Niagara’s application for tax assistance will be discussed during today’s board meeting.

February 7, 2012
Search planned for missing Falls woman
Loved ones are organizing a search party for 67-year-old Judith Burr who has been missing since Friday.

February 7, 2012
Bill would ban offenders on school buses
The New York State Senate passed a bill Tuesday that would ban certain criminal offenders from working on school buses.

February 7, 2012
No new vet for Niagara SPCA
It was one step forward and one step back for the SPCA of Niagara on Monday.
Just 72 hours after announcing the hiring of a new veterinarian for its troubled shelter, the SPCA board changed its mind and decided not to bring Lewiston vet Dr. Grant Hobika on board.

February 6, 2012 1 Photo
More Local News Headlines

Do you think cigarette sales to non-Native American customers should be taxed on reservations?