Couple withdraw lawsuit against Genoa High School coach

4/15/2005

PORT CLINTON - A lawsuit against the Genoa Area Local Board of Education alleging that a high school girls' basketball and softball coach allowed illegal activities to take place this school year has been dismissed.

The suit, filed in Ottawa County Common Pleas Court by Kristina and Gary Nissen of Curtice on behalf of their daughter, Genoa High junior Jill Nissen, alleged that Coach Thomas Kontak "verbally abuses student athletes, discriminates against student athletes who questioned Coach Kontak's coaching decisions, and violates [Ohio High School Athletic Association] rules and school rules."

Michael Portnoy, the Nissens' attorney, said his clients asked him to withdraw the case because they thought it was in their daughter's best interests.

The school district's law firm, Eastman & Smith of Toledo, last week filed a motion to dismiss the case.