Kearney school officials may be questioned in ex-coach’s defamation case

KEARNEY, Neb. (KSNB) – A judge ruled Tuesday against Kearney school administrators trying to avoid a hearing in a defamation case involving a former basketball coach.

Jonathan “JD” Carson has resigned as the Kearney High girls basketball coach November 2023. He later claimed that he was the victim of a witch hunt. Carson filed a civil suit, naming them “John or Jane Doe,” accusing them of defamation and invasion of privacy.

Carson’s attorney wants to take depositions from Kearney Public Schools Superintendent Jason Mundorf and Kearney High School Principal Jeff Ganz, presumably to learn from them who made the allegations that ultimately led to Carson’s resignation.

Court records indicate Mundorf and Ganz’s attorney filed a motion to quash or stop the depositions, referring to them as a fishing expedition.

On October 29, District Judge John Marsh denied that motion, ruling in part that “the discovery rules provide for depositions when the party against whom the depositions will be used is unknown.”

In March, Judge Marsh dismissed part of Carson’s lawsuit in which he accused Kearney school teacher Amber Garner that he falsely accused him of having an inappropriate relationship with one of the players on the Kearney High girls basketball team. Judge Marsh dismissed the complaint against Garner, ruling that the statute of limitations had run out.

Carson trains the Amherst girls basketball team this year.

As of Friday afternoon, no court records had been released indicating when depositions for Mundorf and Ganz will take place or whether their attorney will appeal Judge Marsh’s decision.

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