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The Beslers contend that Hussong verbally abused Jennifer during the 1995-96 season and ordered her to lose 10 pounds. Also named as defendants are Hussong’s wife, Lori, the WW-P school board, and two former school administrators, Ray Bandlow and Michael Carr.
Lori Hussong’s defense attorney Mary Massey, who kicked off yesterday’s summations, said that no evidence has linked her client to an anonymous phone call made to the Beslers’ shore house duringa senior cut day party or to a police search of the home that same day.
This happened eight years ago,around the time the Beslers filed a claim against Lori’s husband, Daniel, Massey said.
Lori Hussong never talked about the Beslers to others, as Jennifer has claimed, Massey said. Hussong, in fact, fulfilled her duty as an educator by talking to girls about the consequences of drinking, coincidentally after another party at the Besler home, Massey pointed out.
Moreover, Massey added, evidence showed that Jennifer Besler has lied to teachers, to her own parents, to doctors and in court.
"That is what is outrageous," Massey concluded.
Following Massey in delivering a closing argument was Sharon Moore, representing Daniel Hussong, the WW-P school board and two school administrators. Moore posed more questions for jurors to ponder.
Moore asked rhetorically why the Beslers didn’t confront their friends, the Hussongs, earlier, and where was any medical evidence that Jennifer still suffered from a physical ailment.
And who, Moore asked, would buy the "unbelievable tale" that margaritas filled with water, not alcohol, didn’t form a block of ice.
The Beslers began complaining about Hussong after Jennifer lost her starting position, Moore said, calling it "the worst thing that ever happened to (Jennifer) then and since."
What followed was the Beslers’ "campaign to get rid of (Hussong) by attacking him where they thought he was vulnerable," she said.
The Beslers complained about his loud behavior and his cursing. But they never mentioned Jennifer’s alleged eating disorder until much later, Moore said.
Moore said that Michael Carr, the school principal at that time, had already taken action regarding the coach’s behavior, but he never divulged this to the Beslers because of a union contract that protected Hussong’s right to privacy.
Moore also told jurors that if they were to grant an award to the plaintiffs because the coach had cursed on occasion "it will be difficult for anyone to coach."
"It is easy to say ‘abuse,’" she added. "But calling something abuse doesn’t make it abuse ... Good advocacy doesn’t make a claim."
Dan Fleming, the plaintiffs’ counsel, dates Jennifer’s troublesto when Hussong ordered her to lose weight shortly before basketball season eight years ago.
"That is only the beginning," said Fleming.
During his 1½-hour summation, Fleming suggested that Hussong motivated players with "instruments of inspiration or tools of torture," creating joyous or miserable situations at his discretion.
"A tiger never changes its stripes," he said, suggesting that despite his two-game suspension for cursing at officials, Hussong’s behavior never changed.
Fleming equated the girls’ locker room during half time to a torture chamber, replete with screaming, flying objects and fear.
"And if parents complained," Fleming said, "he took it out on the kids."
Hussong lost sight of his mission to develop students and athletes, Fleming said. Hussong abused and destroyed people, Fleming said.
Philip Besler confronted the WW-P board of education on a number of occasions to protect his daughter, but he was met with indifference, according to Fleming.
The lawsuit contends Hussong, the school board and two former administrators, Bandlow and Carr, are negligent. Hussong and his wife, Lori, each face claims of intentional infliction of emotional distress.
Superior Court Judge Paulette Sapp-Peterson will instruct jurors this morning before they deliberate.
