Exclusive: Day 1: Jane Doe et.al. v. Montgomery County Board of Education - Plaintiff's Witness Wrestler #3

Warning:  This is coverage of a trial involving rape and sexual abuse.

Jane Doe et. al. v. Montgomery County Board of Education et. al.  Montgomery County Circuit Court #482727V

This November 2023, civil trial in Montgomery County, Maryland was not covered by the media.

The public only learned about this trial when the November 17, 2023, jury verdict and award was reported by FOX5.  

The Parents' Coalition is providing the public with rough notes from the civil trial Jane Doe et. al. v. Montgomery County Board of Education in Montgomery County Circuit Court.  

The trial was before Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge Kevin Hessler. 

This is not a transcript.  Please consult the Montgomery County Circuit Court for a copy of the transcript of what transpired at trial.  

Additional postings of notes from this trial can be found at this link. 

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The following are notes from the Plaintiff's witness, Wrestler #3 [W3]

Plaintiff's Direct Examination of W3:

W3 said he is 22 years old.  Works at family salon.  2019 Gaithersburg High School grad.  Wrestler in his junior and senior years.  

Lights were turned on and off in the locker room.  

It's been a long time, can't remember other injury.

Remembers Plaintiff walked out of wrestling room.  

Q:  Did you record video?  Yes.  Snapchat story shared with friends.  

VIDEO WAS PLAYED FOR JURORS

Audio from video:  stop, stop, stop, smells like shit, stop, stop, stop

Q:  Why did you take this video?  Way to get more people to join the wrestling team.  Video shows we're fun here.

Wrestler #4 [W4] sent the video to Coach Britton.

Q.  Was Coach Moore in the locker room when you recorded?  No 

Q.  Was Coach Britton in the locker room when you recorded?  No

I thought the video was funny.  

I thought it was a serious incident when they suspended me.  All I know is something happened, and Plaintiff left.  I was scared, shocked, memory blurry.  

Saw teammates in dogpile.

W1 was surprised or something when he got out of dogpile.  

Saw Plaintiff walking out.  He looked upset or something. Upset and angry.  

Some wrestlers were surprised.  

W1 said to W2, what you do?  Why did you do that? Why did you go do that for? 

Coach said we shouldn't do that, go do stretching.  And we were told Plaintiff left the wrestling team.  

Coach said that was wrong. 

Cross-Examination from Defendants:

Coach came in and out of room.  Not sure where he was.  Generally, nearby. 

Never heard the word "initiation."  

Turning off of lights was random.  Not every day.  It happened before Plaintiff joined the wrestling team.  Never saw any bullying.  

Coach Britton did not tolerate goofing off. 

Team was supportive of each other.  Plaintiff was a good wrestler.  

I took video for recruitment purposes.  Saw everyone laughing, having fun.  Maximum of 20 people could see the Snapchat video.  Did not post video to embarrass Plaintiff.  Took down the video when Plaintiff was upset.  Never saw anyone hurt Plaintiff.

Redirect from Plaintiff:

Q:  You were suspended?  Yes

Q:  You were suspended for videotaping incident?  Yes

Q:  For bullying and harassment?  I shouldn't have been suspended.