Pennsylvania Township, Schools Pay $63K to Banned Mom

A Pittsburgh, Pa., suburb and its school district will pay $63,500 to settle a civil rights lawsuit filed by a woman who claims she was wrongfully barred from watching her daughter’s seventh-grade basketball practices and games in 2009.

Diane Wickstrom sued Peters Township and the township school district claiming the trouble started after she sent an e-mail to a township athletic association expressing concerns about her daughter’s team.

The Peters Township Basketball Association then imposed a rule closing practices which Wickstrom claims was enforced exclusively against her.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports the township’s insurer will pay $55,000 while the school district will pay $8,500.

The township previously said Wickstrom failed to follow rules and caused disruptions during practices and games. Township manager Michael Silvestri says the township still maintains it did nothing wrong.