Jun 22, 2015 By David Singer 3 min read

A former Mt. Lebanon couple is seeking at least $35,000 in damages in a suit filed against the Mt. Lebanon Lacrosse Association, alleging board members spread false rumors about them and their children concerning drug use and stealing money from the organization, forcing them to move to Colorado. William and Katherine Bedortha say in the suit filed in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court that board members Kate Murdoch, Brian Prettyman, Jeffrey Iovino and other unnamed defendants defamed them by spreading false rumors through text messages and gossip around the Mt. Lebanon pool and other public spaces.

The couple, who lived in Mt. Lebanon from 2007-2014, were active members of the lacrosse community, where they coached and engaged as members of the lacrosse association’s board. The political environment of youth sports might have brought forth the rumors, according to the couple’s attorney, Bill Labovitz.

“We understand there’s a political nature to these types of boards and organizations, but the actions by association’s board members have gone too far and they must be held accountable,” Labovitz said. The suit goes on to say board members conspired a plan at a June 23, 2014, meeting to ouster the Bedorthas from their positions in Mt. Lebanon lacrosse.

One of the attorneys representing the association and its board members, Joseph Lesinski, said it’s not typical for his firm to comment on cases, and declined to comment.

William Bedortha, who co-owned and operated The Lacrosse Store in Castle Shannon, said the store closed in March 2015 after allegations that he was stealing from the store as well as the association, leading to a loss of business between 50-75 percent from clinics and merchandise sales. According to Mt. Lebanon Police, no reports of theft or fraud have been filed by any party against the Bedorthas.

“These accusations were coming from people whom we considered our friends,” he said, “and after seven years of working with the association, putting our heart and soul into it, they ruined our reputation, our children’s lives, and we still don’t know why. It’s absolutely slanderous. We thought we could take the high road and ignore these rumors, but they followed us everywhere. Every aspect of our lives, from church to shopping, we were just so frustrated that our reputations were ruined.”

One of the specific claims named in the suit was that Kate Murdoch texted several individuals claiming Mr. Bedortha was “let go due to rampant drug use at the store,” and that the Bedorthas were “broke, so (Katherine) had to go work at Giant Eagle as a cashier,” and that their financial situation led them to steal. Additionally, the couple says their 10-year-old son was being bullied and harassed by peers over the statements and was no longer to ably play lacrosse in Mt. Lebanon.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 20.