Jury Awards $136,030 in West Virginia Locker Room Fight Case

A West Virginia jury has awarded $136,030 to a former Parkersburg South High School football player and his mother in a lawsuit over a locker room fight.

The lawsuit alleged that Parkersburg South assistant football coach Dwain Sponseller encouraged a fight between freshman football team members Adam Cross and Drake Mills. The lawsuit also alleged that Sponseller didn’t try to stop the fight on Oct. 20, 2010.

Media outlets report that a Wood County jury on Friday found school officials failed to supervise Sponseller and failed to train him on safe school policies. The jury also found Sponseller was negligent and acted in a wanton and reckless manner.

Cross’ mother, Lisa Watson, filed the lawsuit in 2012. Defendants included Sponseller and the Wood County school board.