ATLANTA, GEORGIA — Tuskegee University men's basketball coach Benjy Taylor filed a federal civil lawsuit seeking more than $1 million in damages against Morehouse College and two campus officers after being handcuffed during a January 31 game at Forbes Arena in Atlanta. Taylor was escorted off the court by Morehouse College campus officers but was not charged with a crime.

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division, naming Morehouse College and officers R. Clark and M. Roberson as defendants. The incident occurred after players from both teams lined up for a postgame handshake following Morehouse's 77-69 victory.

According to court filings, members of the Morehouse football team taunted Tuskegee players and used profanity toward coaches and staff during the game. Taylor asked that the Morehouse football players be removed from the area around the baseline, according to court filings. Officer R. Clark laughed and turned his back on the remarks directed at the Tuskegee bench instead of restraining the football players, according to court filings.

The lawsuit states Taylor endured physical damages, emotional distress, and financial losses. Taylor is 58 years old.

"That's my life's work. I won't be remembered for that. I'll be remembered for this," Taylor said at a press conference. "I lost 11 pounds. I can't sleep more than two or three hours without assistance."

One of Taylor's lawyers, Harry Daniels, said Taylor has suffered "reputational harm." "This is going to be the stigma surrounding him the rest of his career like a scarlet letter," Daniels said.

Last month, the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference fined Morehouse College an undisclosed amount for failing to meet mandated conference safety standards. Tuskegee University President Mark Brown and Athletic Director Reginald Ruffin released a statement in support of Taylor.