Lacrosse Racketeering Lawsuit Settled

SHERMAN, Texas (CN) - The family of a Dallas lacrosse player settled their closely followed federal racketeering lawsuit that claimed he was benched on his high school team in retaliation for not supporting his coaches' for-profit academy.

The Munck family sued the Dallas Lacrosse Academy dba Coast2Coast Lacrosse and six individuals in March 2014.

The Muncks claim Billy Munck was benched at Episcopal School of Dallas for not going along with the alleged pay-to-play scheme .

U.S. District Judge Richard Schell on Wednesday granted the parties' joint motion for a permanent injunction and dismissal.

Under the settlement, the defendants agree not to attempt to influence the Muncks' financial support for any lacrosse organization, and not to "influence or interfere" with Billy Munck or Garrett J. Munck's "lacrosse playing time, lacrosse accolades, scholarship and/or educational opportunities."

The Muncks had claimed the academy's owners used their high school coaching positions to "hit up" players' families for business, at the risk of not playing if they did not pay.

"Through the use of illegal and fraudulent conduct, including threats, intimidation, and even extortion, defendants have tried to ensure that student athletes who want to play lacrosse in North Texas have to pay-for-play and have to go through defendants' enterprise," the complaint stated. "Those who do not acquiesce to the RICO defendants' threats and demands suffer."

The defendants responded one month later, accusing Billy Munck's father of using his Dallas law firm Munck Wilson "as a tool" against area coaches "whose only sin was failing to recognize and appreciate the athletic talents of" his son.

"After Billy failed to make the varsity lacrosse team while attending the Episcopal School of Dallas in the spring of 2010, Munck met with defendant John Marano to discuss defendant Kevin Barnicle (the head lacrosse coach at ESD at the time)," the defendants' April 2014 motion to dismiss stated.

"Marano's perception of the meeting was that Munck was threatening to use his position as a lawyer with his own law firm to financially ruin Marano , his family and Barnicle if Billy were not moved to the ESD varsity squad."

The coaches said Billy's father was "never able to let go of his anger" even after Billy transferred to the Millbrook Academy in New York for his final two years of high school.

Attorneys for the Dallas Lacrosse Academy did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday evening.

The Muncks' attorney, Jamil Alibhai with Wilson Mandala in Dallas, told the Dallas Morning News the judge's order "closes this matter to our satisfaction."

"The court's order prohibits DLA from committing certain acts, which are listed in the order and agreed to by DLA," Alibhai said Thursday. "All parties have entered into a confidential agreement that settles all claims in these lawsuits."

Follow @davejourno

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