Mascoutah School District And Volleyball Coach Settle Lawsuit With Former Student
By Pamela Rensing
heraldpubs@heraldpubs.com
EAST ST. LOUIS – Mascoutah school district and volleyball coach Todd Gober settled with former student Brooke Junker on her claim that she was demoralized and degraded while on the MHS Volleyball Team in 2022.
A 55-page lawsuit was filed in Illinois federal court on August 24, 2022, by Junker against Gober and the school district. The lawsuit stated that Gober subjected the volleyball team to “demoralizing and degrading” activities. She and three other seniors met separately with a Mascoutah school counselor, voicing concerns about how they were treated. The counselor then reported their allegations to Mascoutah Athletic Director Scott Battas.
Junker is the daughter of Jeff and Beth Junker. Jeff Junker is the former assistant principal at Mascoutah High School who retired in 2022. According to the lawsuit, her parents tried to intervene on behalf of their daughter.
Gober is President/CEO at First Federal Savings Bank of Mascoutah and the MHS volleyball coach.
In October 2022, the school district and Gober moved to dismiss the complaint. In July 2023, U.S. District Judge David Dugan denied the motion.
Former magistrate judge Stephen Williams reported to Dugan that he successfully mediated their dispute on August 24, 2023. Dugan gave the parties 60 days to prepare documents. At the time of the lawsuit in 2022, Junker was seeking damages in excess of $500,000.
Marie Pudlowski, Mark Schuver, Montana Sinn, and Natalie Lorenz, all of Mathis, Marifian and Richter in Belleville, represented Junker.
Lawrence Neyland of Northbrook represented the district along with Bruch.
I guess the burning question is why are the Athletic Director and Head Volleyball Coach still employed at District 19? The taxpayers foot the bill while District 19 nor the elected School Board did not move to dismiss either individual. What a great message we are sending our children. I guess the safety of our children is no longer a concern and should no longer be a topic of discussion. The District and the School Board have spoken loudly as to their stance on student safety and student well being.
Nothing happens to Battas. He is the golden child
Lovely money grab. Wonder how much the district paid?
What a joke! I guess retirement wasnt enough so let’s look for more money! Quite a money grab! If it was really that bad then then the girl could have quit. Really sad.