JOHNSTOWN - Former Johnstown High School teacher and girls soccer coach Victor J. Malagisi is suing Board of Education member Ronald Beck for more than $1 million, claiming Beck falsely accused him of having sexual relationships with students and athletes, costing him a professional coaching job.
The civil lawsuit was filed by Malagisi on Sept. 6 in state Supreme Court in Johnstown. Malagisi, a Gloversville resident and former business teacher in Johnstown, accuses Beck of having a "reckless disregard" for the truth and using confidential school records in the alleged smear campaign.
Beck, a retired Johnstown history teacher and one-time boys soccer coach, was elected to the school board in 2009. He could not be reached for comment this morning.
After The Leader-Herald went to press today, Robert Abdella, Beck's Gloversville-based attorney, said he already filed a counter-claim for damages "based on the frivolity of the suit."
"I can tell you in all my years of practice, I've never seen a more frivolous lawsuit," he said. "Truth is the defense to a defamation case."
Johnstown Superintendent Robert DeLilli said today he has no information about the lawsuit and characterized it as a "person-to-person issue." Board of Education President Paul VanDenburgh said today he is unaware of the suit, and probably wouldn't comment if he did know.
The lawsuit says in the summer of 2010, Beck learned Malagisi was "on the verge of winning a contract" to coach the New York Red Bulls professional men's soccer team, based in Harrison, N.J. The lawsuit says Malagisi secured a recommendation from David Carr, who was the Knox Junior High School principal while Malagisi was a teacher and coach. On July 20, 2010, Carr told the Red Bulls representatives that Malagisi's "performance was excellent" as a teacher and coach, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit says Beck four days later contacted Carr to tell him Malagisi "abused his position as an educator and soccer coach" and "engaged in inappropriate and illegal sexual relationships" with "girls he educated and coached while they were still his players and/or students."
"Victor Malagisi is a sexual predator and deviant who is unfit to coach a soccer team, engage in the [role] of an educator and is not a trustworthy individual," Beck told Carr, according to the lawsuit.
Malagisi never has been criminally charged with having inappropriate relationships with girls.
At Beck's urging, Carr called the Red Bulls to withdraw his endorsement, the lawsuit said.
"As a result of Mr. Beck's actions, [Malagisi] was denied the position as coach of the New York Red Bulls," the lawsuit says.
Carr, now the superintendent at Wheelerville Union Free School in Caroga, was unavailable for comment this morning.
Represented by Latham attorney Robert G. Magee, Malagisi says in the lawsuit Beck knew his statements were false.
The lawsuit claims information used by Beck was derived from "confidential school district personnel files" while Malagisi was employed at the district "and had, as Ronald Beck knew, been discredited."
According to the state Education Department, Malagisi surrendered his teaching and administrative certificates in April 2009. The Board of Education accepted his resignation effective May 1, 2009.
No public reason for his resignation was given. Malagisi was unavailable for comment this morning.
His last season coaching Johnstown soccer was 2007. He coached the Fulton-Montgomery Community College women's team in 2008 and has been an assistant coach with the World Premier Soccer League's Adirondack Lynx. He runs the Mohawk Elite Soccer Academy.
In the lawsuit, Malagisi said Beck has contacted other prospective coaching and teaching employers to share the allegations. The lawsuit says Beck has also published allegations to representatives of the Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association.
Among the four causes of action, the lawsuit accuses Beck of putting forth false allegations that have "tended to lower plaintiff's esteem in the community and have severely damaged plaintiff's prospects for future employment." Malagisi is seeking $250,000 in compensatory and $100,000 in punitive damages for each cause.
Michael Anich covers Johnstown and Fulton County news. He can be reached at johnstown@leaderherald.com.
