South Bay : Football Player Sues Alleging Racial Slur

A Compton high school football player is suing a Lawndale referee, claiming that the referee kicked him and called him a racial epithet.

Centennial High School football player Vincent Brooks alleges in a civil suit, filed Friday in Compton Superior Court, that referee Ken Smotry punched him in the mouth and called him a racial slur during an October football game between Centennial and Beverly Hills high schools. Smotry was arrested on suspicion of the alleged assault.

During the same game, Smotry was punched by Centennial player Kimasu Simmons, who said the referee also called him a racial slur. Simmons, who was arrested on suspicion of the assault, has filed a suit in Los Angeles Superior Court against the Beverly Hills Police Department for allegedly violating his right to have counsel present during questioning.

Attorney Leo Terrell, who represents both Brooks and Simmons, said he has statements from eight people who say they heard the referee use the epithet. “For some reason, the public wants to discount the word of eight African American men over the word of one white referee.”

The lawsuit seeks unspecified monetary damages and injunctive relief. The California Interscholastic Federation, which oversees high school sports, and the Compton Unified School District are also named as defendants.

Smotry’s attorney, David DiJulio, said he is shocked by the lawsuit.

“The CIF report proves that no one used the N-word . . . and the videotape [of the game] shows that nobody was knocked down,” he said. A CIF investigation was completed last month and found that Smotry had not used the word.

He said his client will respond by suing Brooks for $250,000 for causing Smotry to be arrested for something he claims he did not do.