Court dismisses coach's suit

Deschutes County Circuit Court Judge Alta Brady dismissed a suit filed by former Outlaws girls soccer coach Nik Goertzen against three Sisters citizens. A suit against the school district was in limbo as of press time.

Goertzen's contract as a coach was not renewed for the 2012-13 school year. He was not actually terminated from his position; his contract was not renewed. Coaches are "at-will" employees of the district.

He coached the Outlaws to the state championship game in 2011. Goertzen was named league and state coach of the year in 2012.

Goertzen's suit accused parents Lisa Young and Dan and Cheryl Stewart of attacking his "competence and character," influencing Principal Joe Hosang's decision to end Goertzen's tenure as a soccer coach.

In her opinion granting a defendant's motion to strike, Brady noted that, "(Goertzen's) claims are based on statements made by defendants related to their opinions of (Goertzen's) competency and performance as a coach. The fact that they were advocating for his termination as soccer coach does not mean that the expression of their opinions was not constitutionally protected free speech... Even if defendants' comments were not protected speech, there is no evidence to support a causal connection between the comments and the decision to terminate (Goertzen) as soccer coach."

The defendants were awarded reasonable attorney's fees and costs.

UPDATE: Nik Goertzen contacted The Nugget on Tuesday evening, March 5, to state that, "the judge is in violation of my Oregon constitutional rights to be tried by a jury of my peers. Since she's in violation of my constitutional rights, we are headed to the court of appeals in Salem."