NCAA Women's Soccer Player Suing UCONN

NEWBURGH, N.Y. - Dec. 12, 2016 - PRLog -- On Monday, December 19, 2016, Newburgh sports lawyer Greg J.Tarone will be filing a federal lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut ("Court") on behalf of Noriana Radwan, an NCAA student-athlete who formerly played soccer at the University of Connecticut. The lawsuit names the UConn Board of Trustees, former UConn Athletic Director Warde Manuel now at the University of Michigan, current women's soccer Head Coach Len Tsantiris, and Director of Student Financial Aid Services Mona Lucas.

The lawsuit addresses federal violations of Title IX, Constitutional Rights of Equal Protection, Procedural Due Process, and First Amendment freedom of speech, as well as state claims for breach of the Grant-in-Aid scholarship contract and negligent infliction of emotional distress, all arising from the wrongful termination of Radwan's scholarship in the middle of the academic year based upon "serious misconduct." The lawsuit asks for compensatory and punitive damages.

On November 9, 2014, after the UConn women's soccer team beat the University of South Florida by penalty kicks to win the American Athletic Conference Championship in Tampa, Florida, Radwan was caught by a live ESPNU camera and Watch ESPN streaming showing her middle finger in celebration. As punishment, Coach Len Tsantiris immediately suspended Radwan from the team for the remainder of the season. She was reinstated to the team weeks later, but on December 19, 2014 Tsantiris notified Radwan he was taking away her scholarship because, the Complaint claims, Tsantiris needed Radwan's out-of-state grant-in-aid to offer a full scholarship to a discontent Notre Dame midfielder, Morgan Andrews, who subsequently turned down UConn for the University of Southern California.

The lawsuit stems from Manuel's, Tsantiris' and Lucas' characterizing Radwan's expression on television as "serious misconduct" under NCAA By-Law 15.3.4.2(c), normally reserved for criminal, violent and felonious offenses. Tarone claims UConn's breach under the new NCAA four-level enforcement appears to be a Level 1 breach of contract that can bring severe consequences to UConn. The Complaint cites the Southeastern Conference definition of "serious misconduct" being "sexual assault, domestic violence or other forms of sexual violence."

At 11:00 am on December 19th, Tarone will hold a press conference inside the office of John J. Lease Realtors at 5020 Route 9W, Newburgh, NY 12550. Attending will be Tarone and Radwan, but only Tarone will take questions. Advance copies of the Summons and Complaint with Exhibits will be available by request to Greg@TaroneEsq.com with the understanding that any quoting of the Complaint language for dissemination should only be after the Complaint is filed with the Court on December 19th, since the language in the Complaint may change before filing with the Court.

Visit http://norianasvoice.org for further details.