Virginia Tech Soccer Player Settles Lawsuit Alleging Benching for Refusing to Kneel
Ex-Virginia Tech Soccer Player Settles Lawsuit Claiming Benching for Refusing to Kneel
A former Virginia Tech soccer player who said she was benched for not kneeling during a pregame unity ceremony has settled her lawsuit against Coach Charles “Chugger” Adair. Kiersten Hening claimed that Adair became angry when she refused to kneel in support of social justice initiatives, including the Black Lives Matter movement, at the start of a September 2020 game against the University of Virginia.
Ex-Virginia Tech Soccer Player Settles Lawsuit Claiming Benching for Refusing to Kneel
January 8, 2023
UPDATE: Kiersten Hening, a former Virginia Tech soccer player, has reached a settlement in her lawsuit against Coach Charles "Chugger" Adair, in which she will receive $100,000. Hening had claimed that Adair punished her for expressing her political views at a game, violating her First Amendment rights. The terms of the settlement included no admission of wrongdoing by either party.
January 4, 2023
A former Virginia Tech soccer player has settled her lawsuit against Coach Charles “Chugger” Adair, who she claimed had benched her for refusing to kneel during a pregame unity ceremony in support of social justice initiatives, including the Black Lives Matter movement. The case, which was scheduled to go to trial in January, was settled after a confidential settlement conference was held in December. The terms of the settlement have not been disclosed. Hening had argued that she was punished for exercising her First Amendment right to speak by not kneeling with her teammates. Tech maintained that Adair’s decision to limit Hening’s playing time was based on her substandard performance during the first half of the game. Hening quit the team after seeing little action in the following two games.
8 Key Points:
Kiersten Hening, a former Virginia Tech soccer player, filed a lawsuit against Coach Charles "Chugger" Adair claiming that she was benched for refusing to kneel during a pregame unity ceremony in support of social justice initiatives, including the Black Lives Matter movement.
Hening argued that she was punished for exercising her First Amendment right to free speech by not kneeling with her teammates.
Tech argued that Adair's decision to limit Hening's playing time was based solely on her substandard performance during the first half of the game.
Judge Thomas Cullen rejected Tech's motion to dismiss the lawsuit, stating that there were factual disputes that should be decided by a jury.
A confidential settlement conference was held on December 20, and the case has now been settled. The terms of the settlement are not publicly available.
Hening had requested to be reinstated to the team, among other things.
Hening quit the team after seeing little action in the next two games following the incident.
The case, which was scheduled to go to trial on January 18, has been cancelled.
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