NCAA Women's Soccer Player Takes Back Her Voice

NEWBURGH, N.Y. - Dec. 19, 2016 - PRLog -- Newburgh sports lawyer Greg J. Tarone held a press conference today on filing on behalf of his client Noriana Radwan a NCAA women's soccer player. The lawsuit names the UConn Board of Trustees, former UConn Athletic Director Warde Manuel now at the University of Michigan, current women's soccer Head Coach Len Tsantiris, and Director of Student Financial Aid Services Mona Lucas.

The lawsuit addresses federal violations of Title IX, Constitutional Rights of Equal Protection, Procedural Due Process, and First Amendment freedom of speech, as well as state claims for breach of the Grant-in-Aid scholarship contract and negligent infliction of emotional distress, all arising from the wrongful termination of Radwan's scholarship in the middle of the academic year based upon "serious misconduct." The lawsuit asks for compensatory and punitive damages.

On November 9, 2014, after the UConn women's soccer team beat the University of South Florida by penalty kicks to win the American Athletic Conference Championship in Tampa, Florida, Radwan was caught by a live ESPNU camera and Watch ESPN streaming showing her middle finger in celebration.

Attorney for Noriana Greg J. Tarone at today's press conference, "The time has finally come to restore Noriana's Voice, and now she will take this occasion to finally be able to speak to the public directly. Noriana and I have expenses ahead and UConn has its Attorney General's office and law firms to represent them. It is not a level playing field, but the merits of Noriana's case will speak for themselves. We plan to go to trial."

Noriana Radwan's statement at today's press conference apologized for her past behavior while playing for UConn's Women's Soccer Team:

Finally, today I can speak publicly to apologize to the University of Connecticut's student body and administration for my emotional moment of misjudgment. To my parents, family, friends, and all the citizens of Connecticut and viewers of ESPNU and Watch ESPN that saw the incident, please understand that I did not intend to offend anyone. I was making a celebratory statement that was seriously misinterpreted and misjudged.

I loved UConn, but I lost faith in it as an institution when it allowed my scholarship to be illegally taken away so abruptly and crassly in the middle of the school year, violating all trust I had.

Greg J. Tarone has been involved in sports law for nearly 30 years, counseling amateurs and professionals, writing about legal issues, networking and supporting athletes' rights in litigation. He has formed Student-Athlete Legal, a referral and cooperative networking service among sports lawyers and others nationwide, to help provide guidance and representation for student-athletes seeking to know all their legal rights and how to enforce them.

At the press conference today, Tarone revealed an additional and separate claim that Radwan has in Connecticut state court:

My client also has a claim also against UConn athletic trainer Catie Dann for her negligent treatment of Noriana's shoulder that was twice dislocated in practice and never treated by a doctor. She had surgery just after transferring to Hofstra, where it popped out again. She was immediately examined and the shoulder was surgically repaired. Because that claim does not arise out of the same facts as the federal claims, it is expected to be pursued in state court soon. We will also file complaints against Dann with the state licensing authority — Mr. Tarone, Esq. at today's conference.

Prior to playing for Hofstra, Noriana Radwan played nine games in her first NCAA women's soccer collegiate season for the University of Connecticut in 2014. In high school Noriana served as a two-year captain for the Beacon Bull Dogs and earned all-state and all-section first-team honors. She rebounded from a junior high school injury to earn MVP in her senior season. Noriana was recognized by the Poughkeepsie Journal as a three-time All-League choice.

At Beacon High School Noriana served as class secretary in both her junior and senior years and made the school's honor roll for five straight years. Noriana has two older siblings and began started playing soccer at age four.

The time has finally come to restore Noriana's Voice – personal to her and common to all student-athletes. Visit her website at www.NorianasVoice.org to help support her and please, follow Noriana's case on Facebook at Noriana's Voice.

Facebook, NoriansVoice: https://www.facebook.com/norianasvoice