ESPN Radio Williamsport legal analyst Michael J. Zicolello offers his assesment of the settlement reached in the Landis Wright case.
LHU Athletic Director Sharon E. Taylor, former LHU wrestling coach Anthony "Rocky" Bonomo, and former LHU President Dr. Keith T. Miller have settled a Federal Lawsuit filed by former LHU wrestler Landis Wright claiming that they attempted to force him to to wrestle while injured and violated his freedom of speech by limiting his ability to speak out against the school.
Landis Wright alleged numerous NCAA violations at LHU and contended that University Officials including Taylor and Bonomo were aware of the violations, which included excessive weight loss, impermeable sweat suits, sweat rooms, pushing injured athletes to wrestle, and even offering Landis' younger brother, Quentin Wright, a full scholarship when Quentin was only a high school sophomore.
In his freshman season at LHU, Landis took third place at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Tournament and fifth at the Eastern Wrestling League Tournament posting a 24-12 record. However, Landis seriously injured his shoulder during a wrestling match on Jan. 26, 2008. Landis claimed that he was informed by a surgeon that he would risk permanent injury to his shoulder and never wrestle again if he did not rest. Bonomo allegedly pressured Landis to wrestle during practices leading up to a match against Bloomsburg University three weeks later despite the injury and doctor's instructions, and even unsuccessfully attempted to persuade Landis to wrestle in the Bloomsburg match by offering to have the trainer give him an injection to numb his shoulder.
Landis situation resulted in a meeting between him and his Father and LHU officials in February 2008. Landis claimed that Taylor was present during the meeting and that he and his Father advised Taylor and the other LHU officials that NCAA violations were occurring at LHU within the wrestling program and in response Taylor told Landis he could have his scholarship at LHU if he would "sit in the bleachers and keep quiet. Landis claims that LHU eventually conducted a sham investigation of his allegations of NCAA violations allowing Taylor to conduct the investigation despite the allegation that she was involved in the meeting in February 2008, during which she told Landis and his Father that Landis could keep his scholarship if he would quietly "sit in the bleachers."
Bonomo then allegedly informed Landis he was not on the wrestling team on Sept. 9, 2008. While Bonomo denied he told Landis this, Landis was not on the wrestling roster when published on Sept. 22, 2008.
Although the terms of the settlement agreement preclude Landis Wright from disclosing the amount of the settlement, through a Right to Know Act inquiry it has been learned that Landis Wright will be paid $200,000. It is believed that this amount will be paid by the Commonwealth and the State System of Higher Education and not the individual Defendants who were sued. Notably, Taylor is the only Defendant who remains employed by LHU.
(Editor's notes: full disclosure, Michael J. Zicolello, Esq. is the co-founder of SCHEMERY ZICOLELLO, P.C. a law firm in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Michael J. Zicolello of the law firm Schemery Zicolello successfully defended ESPN Radio Williamsport General Manager Todd Bartley in a civil case alleging libel brought by LHU Athletic Director Sharon E. Taylor . Zicolello is also representing Bartley in a Federal Civil Rights lawsuit brought by Bartley against Sharon E. Taylor in her role as LHU Athletic Director.
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