Fired Boca basketball coach claims wrongful termination

Spinner’s lawsuit follows dismissal for open gym session.

Ousted Boca Raton boys basketball coach Max Spinner has filed a lawsuit against the Palm Beach County School District and the school’s athletic director and principal.

In the lawsuit, Spinner claims he was wrongfully terminated as theBobcats’ head coach earlier this month, and wants his name cleared and his job back.

He was suspended Nov. 10, then dismissed Dec. 4 for holding an open gym session at the school on Sept. 20.

According to the lawsuit, Boca Raton claimed the session violated Florida High School Athletic Association policy that requires open gyms be made available to all students who attend the school. In addition, the school claimed the session violated another FHSAA pol- icy that states school person- the FHSAA placed the school nel must not provide instruc- on administrative probation tion during the practice. through June 30, 2019, and

Spinner disputes that any Boca Raton also received a violations occurred. reprimand.

He claims he asked for, The sch o ol district and received, permission declined comment on the from interim Athletic Direc- lawsuit Wednesday, though tor Moody Fuller to hold a spokeswoman said Spinthe open gym session. The ner — at-will employee — school also sent a school disviolated district policy at trict employee to oversee it. the open gym by using the

Spinner also claims he did Boca Raton High School logo not provide any instruction on the front of a T-shirt that during the practice, suggestwas advertising his club basing only that the players ketball program. warm up in order to avoid Spinner, who has coached injury. The practice con- the Bobcats for four seasisted of a warmup session sons, remains a teacher at and a scrimmage. the school.

The school self-reported “The people who are the violations to the FHSAA, affected most significantly which later issued fines that by this is the kids, especially totaled $5,000 for those viowhen they have a relationlations, plus another $9,000 ship with the coach,” said for an open facilities violation Spinner’s attorney, Patrick involving the Bobcats’ footLawlor. “You look at why ball team earlier this year. they’re released, and see

The earlier fine, issued that the reasons are not jusMay 30, had been suspended tified. The kids are the forby the FHSAA provided that gotten ones.” no other violations occurred over a 13-month period.

In addition to the fines,