Trotwood basketball coach sued after 2 players fight

TROTWOOD — A former Trotwood-Madison High School student and his mother have filed a civil lawsuit against varsity basketball coach Mark Baker and one of his top players accusing the coach of having her son injured when Baker allegedly allowed players to fight during halftime of a basketball game last year.

Vanessa Reed said Baker “encouraged and/or directed the violent confrontation” between her son, Dominique, who was a senior last year, and Marcus Graham, who was a sophomore, in a locker-room altercation during halftime of the Rams’ 73-47 home victory over Troy Feb. 10, 2009. Dominique Reed suffered a broken right hand.

The Reeds, who are represented by Dayton lawyer Kevin W. Attkisson, filed their suit Wednesday, April 7, in Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas. They are also suing Graham, five other unnamed players, the Trotwood Madison Schools Board of Education and Trotwood Madison Schools.

Baker said he is surprised by the lawsuit and assumed the issue was resolved.

“That (fight) was reported two years ago,” Baker said. “I thought it was over. That’s old. I don’t know what’s going on.”

After the altercation, Vanessa Reed asked Superintendent Lowell Draffen to fire Baker, who was a first-year head coach. But Draffen denied her request. At the time, Principal Gerald Cox and Athletic Director James Ladd said Baker was disciplined.

In a March 6, 2009, Dayton Daily News article, Baker offered an explanation about the incident.

“I don’t want to get into the particulars of it,” Baker said at the time. “They did something in-house that they felt was right, and we’re just going to move on. Anybody who knows me knows I have a history of working with young people and have never done anything less than trying to help them develop.

“The situation with Dominique was unfortunate. We just have to make sure as a team — and certainly me as the leader of this team — that we’re a little bit more responsible. I wish I could say I was a perfect man, but I’m not.”

Dominique Reed said he had endured enough verbal abuse by Graham prior to the fight.

“I’ve got to work on my temper,” Dominique said at the time, “but I’ve never been one to put up with people calling me out by my name. It was in front of all my teammates, and I can’t let nobody think that I’m soft.

“So when we get to the locker room, Coach (Baker) was like, ‘Go ahead, bang it out.’ ”

The Reeds are seeking $2,825.76 for medical expenses and more than $25,000 in damages and attorney fees. They have asked for a jury trial.

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