In an Armstrong County case transferred to federal court today, a Vandergrift man and his son claim the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association violated the son's civil rights when it ruled he couldn't play football this school year because he switched schools "for athletic reasons" in the middle of the previous school year.

Thomas Johnson says in the lawsuit that he had always intended to send his son, Timothy Johnson, to a Catholic high school for his last two years but couldn't afford to at the start of the 2010-11 school year.

A Christmas bonus and the refinancing of his home allowed him to transfer his son from Kiski Area High School to Greensburg Central Catholic High School in February, the lawsuit says.

The PIAA ruled that the timing of the transfer, just after the conclusion of the basketball season, was evidence that Tim Johnson, who plays football and basketball, transferred to get on more successful teams, according to the lawsuit. ?It ruled him ineligible for football but eligible to play in the next basketball season.

The Johnsons are seeking a preliminary injunction that would make Tim Johnson eligible to play for the remainder of this year's football season.

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