Utah Supreme Court Rules in Former Coach's Favor

Utah Supreme Court Rules in Former Coach's Favor


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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- The former girls basketball coach at Lehi High School has won a victory in the Utah Supreme Court.

Michael O'Connor sued a group of parents claiming defamation for comments they made that eventually led to him being fired as the coach. O'Connor's attorney says the parents were jealous of the way the coach was treating a star player, who went on to play at Stanford.

The parents claimed O'Connor was a public official, therefore their comments were protected. A judge agreed, but today the Supreme Court ruled that O'Connor was NOT a public official.

The high court's decision sends the case back to the lower court.

O'Connor still teaches at the high school and coaches golf and track.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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