Judge Wants to see JCPS Investigation of Max Gilpin's Death

Jefferson County Circuit Judge Mitch Perry today ordered the Jefferson County Public Schools to turn over to the court their internal report on the death of a high school football player. Perry said the court would review the school system's actions after Gilpin's collapse and death.

This was in response to attorneys Todd Thompson and Mike Cooper for Gilpin's mother and father respectively, who argued that public policy requires the district to produce the investigative file. Since the district is not named in the lawsuit, they argued, the documents must be released. The file was not prepared in anticipation of litigation.

JCPS attorneys objected to the request, saying the report is incomplete and isn't public because it's the product of work by the system's attorneys. Sheldon Berman told C-J last week that the investigation was conducted by Stan Mullen, the district's director of security.

But Perry stood firm saying, “I want to see it under seal, in camera, my eyes only.”

This from Toni at C-J:

3 defendants added to Gilpin suit

Jefferson County Circuit Judge Mitch Perry ruled today that he will allow Max Gilpin’s parents to add three defendants to their lawsuit against six coaches.

Through their attorneys, Michele Crockett and Jeffrey Dean Gilpin filed an amended complaint last week, asking Perry to add Pleasure Ridge Park High School Principal David Johnson, athletic director Craig Webb and assistant coach Josh Ligthle as defendants in the suit against head coach Jason Stinson and five assistant coaches.

Crockett and Gilpin contend that Johnson, Webb and Ligthle were just as negligent in the death of their son, Max Gilpin, as the coaches previously named as defendants...

...Todd Thompson, the attorney representing Max’s mother, said today that Webb and Ligthle were present at the practice during which Max collapsed, and that as principal Johnson failed to provide “appropriate supervision of the coaching staff.”...