Referee Files Claim Against Hart Over Fight With Ex-Coach

Bob Bria, the referee who was involved in a fight with former Hart High basketball Coach Doug Michelson, Friday filed a $250,000 liability claim against the William S. Hart School District.

The district has 45 days to respond, but Bill Maddigan, director of business and fiscal services for the school district, said Tuesday he will recommend to the district board that the claim be rejected. Tristan Pico, the attorney representing Bria, said if a settlement could not be reached, then his next step would be to name the district and Michelson in a lawsuit July 4.

“The school district did not take action against the coach to relieve him of all activities in the athletic department,” Pico said. “Unless it condemns and fires him, then we see it as ratifying his behavior. That makes the school district just as responsible.”

Hart Principal Laurence Strauss suspended Michelson for the postseason after the Feb. 12 altercation. The fight followed Hart’s 43-42 loss to Schurr in the final game of the regular season.

Strauss decided in March not to rehire Michelson as basketball coach for the 1987-88 season but allowed him to continue in his role as girls athletic director and to remain on the faculty as a physical education teacher. Then-assistant Dave Munroe coached Hart in its wild-card game loss to Saugus in the Southern Section 3-A playoffs.

Bria, who earlier had said that he would not sue Michelson over the Feb. 12 incident, said Monday he changed his mind because Michelson publicly refused to accept blame for the altercation.

“I’m tired of my reputation as an official being dragged down,” Bria said. “All he had to do was admit that he was wrong and say he wouldn’t do it again.”

Michelson, who was named women’s basketball coach at Valley College two weeks ago, declined comment.