Civil Rights & Constitutional Law
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December 15, 2008
Thursday, June 12, 2025
Union Local High School Coach Vaughn Butler
Columbus, OH – Today, Brent Gay, a Belmont County, Ohio resident and longtime Union Local football supporter filed a federal civil-rights lawsuit [amended 6/18/25] in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio against the Union Local School District and Assistant Football Coach Vaughn Butler. The complaint alleges that on October 25, 2024, Butler violently assaulted Mr. Gay after Mr. Gay made a mild, constitutionally protected remark criticizing the coaching staff’s preparation.
According to the federal civil-rights action [amended], Mr. Gay—a taxpayer and avid supporter of Union Local football—was standing quietly near the sideline at halftime of the Union Local–Barnesville game in Barnesville, Ohio when he asked Butler, “Did you happen to watch any film this week?” The question was a pointed but lawful critique of the team’s performance in a game they were losing 41–0.
Butler allegedly responded by violently shoving Mr. Gay in the chest, grabbing his coat around the neck, and taking him to the ground, where other coaches and officials—including a local police lieutenant—joined the fray. Mr. Gay suffered injuries to his ribs and face, and was left bloodied and in shock.
Injury to Brent Gay's face after he was attacked by Union Local High School Coach Vaughn Butler
Injury to Brent Gay's collarbone after he was attacked by Union Local High School Coach Vaughn Butler
The [amended] complaint details how the Union Local School District’s policy of granting unchecked authority to its coaches, including Butler, fostered an environment in which violence against critics was tolerated. The District took no action against Butler, despite multiple eyewitness accounts—including one from a neutral eyewitness interviewed by the District itself—confirming Butler was the aggressor. Those eyewitness accounts are attached to the complaint.
The civil suit asserts claims for First Amendment retaliation, including liability against the school district for failing to train its staff, and multiple state-law violations, including civil liability for criminal acts (assault, interference with civil rights, falsification—false statements to government officials, and disorderly conduct); civil assault; civil battery; civil falsification; reckless hiring, retention, and supervision (against the District); and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
“Criticism of government officials is at the core of what the First Amendment protects,” said Subodh Chandra, managing partner of The Chandra Law Firm LLC. “When Mr. Gay questioned Butler’s coaching in a public setting, Butler—a public employee—responded not with reason or restraint, but, the suit alleges, with his fists. Such violent retaliation for protected speech is unconstitutional and unacceptable. The District’s failure to train or discipline Butler—and then even go on to publicly defend his actions—only made matters worse. This lawsuit seeks to hold both Butler and the District accountable.”
Chandra added, with the amendment of the complaint on 6/18/25, "That Superintendent Zack Shutler saw fit to warn the public not to publicly criticize coaches just one day after he learned from a neutral witness that Coach Butler was the aggressor shows incredible contempt for the Constitution—and makes the District liable for an unconstitutional, anti-First Amendment policy."
The lawsuit also describes prior disturbing allegations against Butler, including a 1996 incident in which he was accused of locking a child with mental illness in the trunk of a car while employed as a teacher. It alleges that Butler’s dubious history makes it particularly notable that the District kept Butler on and failed to train him not to use violence against critics.
And the suit, [as amended on 6/18/25], notes that Union Local School District Superintended Zachary Shutler knew from an October 29, 2024 witness interview that Butler was the aggressor, but still made a video statement the next day warning the public not to publicly criticize coaches.
This latest lawsuit follows Mr. Gay’s earlier effort to bring citizen-initiated criminal charges against Butler and others involved in the assault. That story is available here:
➡️ Criminal charges filed against Union Local assistant football coach Vaughn Butler, police Lt. Matthew Tippie, and Belmont County sheriff’s deputy Tyler Grant – Mr. Gay had previously brought charges against Butler and two law-enforcement officers for their roles in the same incident.
➡️ Statement regarding Belmont County court’s decision on private-citizen-initiated criminal charges against Union Local High School assistant football coach Vaughn Butler – Chandra Law expressed its disagreement with a Belmont County Court judge’s denial of his private criminal complaint because that court acknowledged that Butler attacked Mr. Gay because of Mr. Gay's speech, yet seemed to seek to justify it and ignored the existence of the First Amendment right to freedom of speech to criticize government officials.
Mr. Gay seeks compensatory and punitive damages, as well as attorney fees and other relief.
The case is captioned Brent Gay v. Union Local School District and Vaughn Butler, U.S. District Court for the S.D. Ohio Case No. 2:25-cv-00652. The complaint [amended 6/18/25] may be found here.
Mr. Gay is represented by Chandra Law’s Subodh Chandra and Ethan Dawson.
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