Wrongful Death Suit Against Ex-Coach Settled for $275,000

A former New Jersey high school baseball coach will pay $275,000 to help settle a wrongful death lawsuit brought by the family of a player who committed suicide.

The suit claimed 18-year-old Andrew Clark Jr. of Spring Lake Heights suffered emotional trauma at the hands of Bart McInerney, who coached Clark at St. Rose High School in Belmar.

McInerney was convicted in 2010 of child endangerment for sexually explicit conversations and text messages with several players and former players while they were between the ages of 15 and 18.

An appellate court overturned the convictions in 2012, finding that jurors received confusing or inadequate instructions. McInerney is now awaiting a retrial on the charges.

Besides McInerney’s payment, the Asbury Park Press reports St. Rose and the Diocese of Trenton will pay Clark’s estate $475,000, while another defendant will pay $150,000.