Loyalsock Township School District has asked a federal judge to vacate a verdict and order a new trial or reduce the $2.8 million award to a woman who was sexually abused by a coach when she was in middle school.

The district believes the award was “excessive and irrational” and asked in court papers for U.S. Middle District Judge Matthew W. Brann to take the action in a motion for judgment.

That award for pain, suffering and emotional distress was used to punish and was awarded out of sympathy for the plaintiff, not due to any rational relation to the evidence at trial, the district contends.

Jane Doe litigated claims against Loyalsock for the alleged violation of Title IX.

The plaintiff’s claims against Loyalsock were alleged to have arisen from grooming and sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of Kelli Vassallo, her former basketball coach, who had been employed by Loyalsock, as well as employed as a teacher at Williamsport Area School District.

On June 9, after several days of testimony, the jury entered a verdict against Loyalsock and in favor of Jane Doe, awarding $0 in “past medical expenses,” $75,000 in “future medical expenses,” $750,000 in “past and future wage loss/economic capacity,” and $2,000,000 in “non-economic loss.”