Former University of Missouri basketball player Jevon Crudop has been awarded $28,249.80 in damages by a Jackson County Circuit Court, which believes his ability to perform his job as an assistant basketball coach at Raytown South High School was interfered with.
In 2003 Crudop was fired for swearing at players on his sophomore team. One of the players taped the incident. Scott and Denise McCarter, the player’s parents, then complained to the school board and Crudop was soon let go.
Crudop, who is African-American, contended that the firing was race-based. His attorney pointed out that head coach Bud Lathrop, who is the winningest coach in Missouri High School basketball history, has been cited for swearing at his players and has received no more than a suspension.
The jury deadlocked on the issue of whether or not the firing was racially motivated, but awarded Crudop $3,249.80 in actual damages and $25,000 in punitive damages.