Former Lady Rebel sues school, coach

Kim Smith

Monday, March 6, 2000 | 9:20 a.m.

A former UNLV basketball player has filed a lawsuit against the university and a former assistant coach claiming the coach assaulted her during a practice last year.

Amy Wunderlich claims in her lawsuit that she was involved in a clash with then-assistant coach Lisa Rathbun at practice on Jan. 20, 1999.

The lawsuit states that Wunderlich accidentally elbowed Rathbun while Rathbun was guarding her and when the ball came loose, Wunderlich said she dove to the ground for it.

While on the floor, Rathbun "violently and maliciously" kicked Wunderlich in the stomach and ribs and continued to shove and tear at her jersey after being pulled off by team members and coaching staff, the lawsuit states.

After Rathbun was dismissed from her job as assistant coach, Wunderlich began receiving disturbing late-night calls.

Two months after the incident Wunderlich claims that she saw Rathbun at a restaurant and Rathbun threatened her.

Head coach Regina Miller, who also is named in the lawsuit, presented a pair of boxing gloves to Wunderlich through another player at the team's end of season dinner, the lawsuit states. Wunderlich was not at the awards ceremony.

Wunderlich is suing for unspecified damages on the grounds of assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent hiring practices and negligent supervision.

The lawsuit states that UNLV should have known about Rathbun's "violent characteristics."

Miller was in Colorado for a game over the weekend and unavailable for comment.