Lawsuit alleges business defamed a Midlands high school student as ‘dirty’ football player

A contentious play in a high school football game and a sign for a local business resulted in a lawsuit in a Lexington County Circuit Court.

The lawsuit filed by Sandra Zapata, a Lexington mother, alleges that her son was defamed by James Nettles’ Epic Homes on North Lake Drive after last year’s game between Lexington and River Bluff high schools.

Following the game, the sign in front of Epic Homes allegedly displayed the messages: “DIRTY PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARD #5 DANIEL LEX FOOTBALL PROUD,” and “LEX HIGH’S FOOTBALL COACHES ‘HITMAN’ VIDEO LINK SITE UP BY MONDAY.”

Nettles’ son played football for River Bluff at the time, while Zapata’s son played football at Lexington High School at the time and wore No. 5.

“The Defendant created a billboard which had a message directed solely at the Plaintiff,” Zapata’s lawsuit alleges. “The Defendants intentionally set out to harm the reputation of a minor child in this community.”

After the signs went up, her son was “embarrassed,” “humiliated,” and “sustained mental suffering as a result of the damage to his reputation,” according to the lawsuit, which was filed by Jahue Moore of the law firm Moore Bradley Myers for the plaintiff.

The lawsuit doesn’t give any indication that the video link referenced on the sign board was ever posted online. It seeks actual and punitive damages from Nettles and Epic Homes.

A response filed by attorney John Phillips of the firm Roger Townsend for the defendant denies the allegations in the suit and asks that the suit be dismissed. A court order filed Thursday directed the parties to enter mediation.

Sign Up for The State, This Week