He joined WDRB News in 2013 after 14 years with The Courier-Journal. Though Jones regularly claimed on his radio show he did not believe the threats to be appropriate, he often read the comments and Weatherguard’s web address on air, effectively encouraging the behavior, the lawsuit claims. BOZICH | Top 5/Bottom 5 -- Shouldn't Alabama & Saban be No. Omaha referee John Higgins files lawsuit against Kentucky radio station he claims encouraged fan threats, {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, NCAA ref from Omaha receives threats; angry Kentucky fans inundate business with negative reviews, Shatel: Hostility toward referee John Higgins is through the roof, Omaha referee John Higgins putting life back together after threats from angry Kentucky fans, Seven people identified for threats made in March to Omaha referee Higgins, 'Where I Come From': College basketball official John Higgins. In the days following the game, the lawsuit states, Weatherguard — located in Sarpy County — received over 3,000 phone calls, approximately 75 percent of those coming from Kentucky area codes. Here are the players most under the microscope. Please subscribe to keep reading. 05-06 Varsity Basketball. While saying Higgins and his family's "frustration is understandable and their damages are real," U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Hood ruled free speech is protected "even if that speech is revolting and upsetting.". Mostly cloudy with steady rain on and off through the day in Indiana. All rights reserved. A judge has dismissed NCAA basketball official John Higgins' federal lawsuit against Kentucky Sports Radio and its operators, Matt Jones and Drew Franklin, ruling their comments about the referee are Information will be …. The lawsuit filed Tuesday in district court in Nebraska lists Higgins as a plaintiff with his wife, Carol Higgins, and their roofing business, Weatherguard Inc. On one hand, the Plaintiffs assert their right to privacy and to be left alone. “Death threats and defamatory messages in the thousands that lead to a serious disruption in a referee’s business are not.”. John Higgins, Keith Kimble and Mike Reed: This page was made with a Macintosh What Flavors Your Mac ? FT% 1. Kansas forward Silvio de Sousa opting out of upcoming season for personal reasons. Jersey Pos #23 F Overall League 4-14 4-9 Nat. Higgins, who has served as an NCAA referee for nearly 30 years, officiated an Elite Eight game in March that Kentucky lost to North Carolina. ", The judge wrote that he is "sensitive to the real problem imposed by cyberbullying, especially in the age of social media.". Judge Hood also pointed out that Higgins could sue fans who threatened him or his family. John Adams, the NCAA's former national coordinator of officiating, is a big fan of Higgins, but he believes the number of games college officials work during a … Several college basketball programs' fortunes will rise or fall on the play of new faces in 2020-21. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Threats of physical harm were also made to Higgins, his family and his business. Kentucky had lost a number of big NCAA tournament games with Higgins on the whistle, including the Final Four defeat to Wisconsin that halted Kentucky’s undefeated 2015 … Franklin also said in his affidavit that he has never "made any agreement with, or made any offer to, anyone to harm, harass, defame, or interfere" with Higgins or his family or business. You have permission to edit this article. Judge dismisses referee's lawsuit against Kentucky Sports Radio, KSP investigating fatal crash on I-65 near Elizabethtown. Plays Basketball. ", But, the judge concluded, the actions were all taken surrounding a high-profile public event and to hold Jones and Franklin "responsible for these third-party actions would potentially quell open debate and commentary on public events and issues.". John Higgins. The lawsuit states this behavior resulted in the plaintiffs suffering damages to be determined at trial, “but that in any event exceed $75,000.” The plaintiffs request the jury trial take place in Omaha. GP 13. ... NCAAM Basketball Quick Links. Much less rain in Kentucky.. LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) – A judge has dismissed NCAA basketball official John Higgins' federal lawsuit against Kentucky Sports Radio and its operators, Matt Jones and Drew Franklin, ruling their comments about the referee are protected by the First Amendment. Billerica Memorial High School Billerica MA. As a result, Higgins argued, fans gave his business negative reviews and made threats to him and his loved ones. But while Jones and Franklin were accused of recruiting "an army of willing and upset fans to attack" Higgins, Hood found after reviewing the allegations, the comments by the two on radio, TV and online "involved matters of public concern. “While Mr. Jones claimed he did not ‘advocate’ such activity,” the lawsuit states, “any fan who wrote such a comment, outrageous enough, would be rewarded by having the comment read on the KSR Show with laughter and admiration.”. Enjoy more articles by logging in or creating a free account. The lame practice of “blame the ref” took an absurd twist this week. Copyright: © 2020 ESPN Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. Omaha official says while he appreciates fans' enthusiasm, threats were a concern for family and company. The Purdue men's basketball team will take to the court Thursday for its first official practice after COVID-19 retests on two players came back negative. Attorneys on behalf of KSR, Jones and Franklin argued they had no contacts in Nebraska and did not target any "activities towards readers or listeners in the state. Jones hosts a two-hour call-in show on Kentucky Sports Radio — which can be heard worldwide through various platforms — and maintains a blog on the station’s website, on which Franklin is also a contributor. Kansas forward Silvio de Sousa is opting out of the upcoming college basketball season. Afterward, Kentucky coach John Calipari criticized the officiating during his postgame press conference, and fans quickly began to share Higgins’ personal information online. Billerica Memorial Basketball; John Higgins; Add Athlete Photo. John Higgins, an Omaha-based college basketball referee who was harassed by Kentucky fans angry at the way he officiated one of the Wildcats’ NCAA tournament games last season, is suing a Kentucky radio station he contends encouraged the harassment. Return to statistics, team schedules, team rosters, opponents, players, coaches, opposing coaches, games, assistance, Kentucky Basketball Page or search this site. Senior. Rank MA Rank 12,705 217. He was 100. Newcomer Impact Rankings - Which college basketball freshmen, transfers will lead teams in 2020-21? In an interview, Jones said "it's been a long two-year process, but I’m pleased the court was able to differentiate between the acts of others and our coverage of them. … In fact, on the radio show broadcast, I advised people to not take the actions described in" the lawsuit. UMass Minutemen penalized for basketball, tennis violations. “A critique or two, with lively language, is to be expected,” the lawsuit states. Get the latest news, stats, videos, highlights and more about guard Johnny Higgins on ESPN. Jason can be reached at 502-585-0823 and jriley@wdrb.com. Copyright 2019 WDRB Media. According to the judge: "This case presents a classic collision of rights situation. No credit card required. Angry fans also left negative reviews of Weatherguard on Google, decreasing the business’ star rating from 4.8 to 1.2. "Tens of thousands" of people have posted unfavorable reviews on a Facebook page for the company owned by Omaha's John Higgins, leading to the business's ratings to plummet. Longtime Minnesota sports columnist Sid Hartman dies at 100. "Thus the speech enjoys special protection and the First Amendment prevents" Higgins from using the courts "to silence and punish the Defendants for engaging in protected speech. In the Season 2 finale of "Where I Come From" — a World-Herald podcast — host Dirk Chatelain sits down for an in-depth interview with John Higgins, a renowned college basketball official from Nebraska. Graduated in 2006. FILE - In this Feb. 28, 2017, file photo, Kentucky head coach John Calipari, right, address official John Higgins after being assessed a technical foul during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Vanderbilt, (AP Photo/James Crisp, File) Reader Randy Fletcher has a passion, and that passion is college basketball officiating. Scott Van Pelt discusses the legendary career of Minnesota sportswriter Sid Hartman, who died Sunday at the age of 100. The comments Jones did make – including "Oh my goodness, you know what his roofing company name is? Jason Riley is a criminal justice reporter for WDRB.com. 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Higgins sued the University of Kentucky fan media outlet in October 2017, claiming he and his family were harmed when his personal and business information in Nebraska was shared online and on the radio after the University of Kentucky men's basketball team lost to North Carolina in the NCAA tournament that year. Purdue men's basketball team to start practices after COVID-19 retests negative. In a first-round game between Auburn and the College of Charleston, referee John Higgins was part of a crew that allowed the wrong man to shoot … Rooferees" – were "targeted" to the audience in Kentucky, not Nebraska, a motion to dismiss argued. Defendants include Kentucky Sports Radio LLC, Matthew H. Jones and Drew Franklin.
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