As he indicated he would nearly a year ago, former Michigan State University head football coach Mel Tucker has filed a wrongful-termination lawsuit against the university.
As reported by NBC affiliate WILX in Onondaga, the lawsuit was filed Wednesday in the US District Court for the Western District of Michigan. Tucker accused the school of wrongful termination and defamation in connection to the sexual harassment scandal that unfolded in September 2023.
Related: MSU Suspends Football Coach Tucker, Accused of Harassing Assault Speaker
In the lawsuit, Tucker and his lawyers claim that MSU’s investigation into whether or not he sexually harassed Brenda Tracy, a sexual abuse prevention advocate who addressed the Spartans at Tucker's request, was biased and violated his right to due process. The lawsuit also accuses the school of discriminating against him because of his race. Tucker is Black.
The defendants in this lawsuit are former MSU interim president Teresa Woodruff, athletic director Alan Haller, and all eight members of the MSU Board of Trustees members.
The lawsuit follows through on Tucker's Sept. 27 indication to MSU that he planned to sue the school for wrongful termination.
Related: Mel Tucker Tells MSU He Plans to File Wrongful-Termination Suit
Tucker seeks financial compensation in the lawsuit, but the amount remains unclear. Tucker said MSU found a reason to fire him to avoid the university’s contractual obligation, where he was owed more than $80 million at the time of his firing.
"By improperly weaponizing the University's investigative procedures against Plaintiff, the Defendants have caused, and continue to cause," the 75-page lawsuit claims, as reported by USA TODAY. “Plaintiff to experience severe emotional harm and suffering, and have caused hundreds of millions in damages."
“To my knowledge, we have not seen the lawsuit yet, but I am checking with our legal team today,” Emily Guerrant with MSU told WILX early Thursday. “At this point, the university does not have a comment.”
