College basketball official John Higgins has filed a federal civil lawsuit against a Kentucky-based media company and its owners, alleging intentional infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy, tortious interference with a business, and civil conspiracy, The Athletic has learned.
In the lawsuit, which was filed on Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Nebraska, the plaintiffs, which include Higgins, his wife, Carol, and his company, Weatherguard, allege that Kentucky Sports Radio and its operators, Matt Jones and Drew Franklin, shared Higgins personal and business information online and on the radio, causing harm to his family and his business. The claim calls for an award of damages in excess of $75,000, with a specific amount to be determined at trial.
Higgins company, Weatherguard, which is based in Nebraska, was allegedly subjected to thousands of threatening phone calls and voice messages from Kentucky fans, including death threats against Higgins and his family, following his work in an Elite Eight game between Kentucky and North Carolina in 2017. The Wildcats lost, 75-73.
Higgins declined to comment. Jones, when reached by The Athletic, said he was unaware of the lawsuit. I'll need to look at it before I can say anything, he said. Franklin could not be reached for comment.
The lawsuit alleges that Kentucky fans directed more than 800 threatening, vulgar, or harassing voicemail messages received on the Weatherguard phone lines, and 30 such threatening, vulgar or harassing messages received on the Higgins family home phone line at Higgins, his family or his business. Those threats were turned over to local law enforcement officials, and the Sarpy County sheriff determined that a full dozen rose to the level of an actual threat of death or bodily injury and that he would pursue a criminal investigation, according to the lawsuit.
Among the specific threats cited: You enjoy your life before somebody kills you, and You hear that garbage truck in the background over there? Wish you were in it personally.
