Michigan State asks federal judge to dismiss Mel Tucker's lawsuit over firing
GRAND RAPIDS — Attorneys for Michigan State University have asked a federal judge to dismiss former football coach Mel Tucker's lawsuit against the school.
Tucker, who the school fired for cause last year, filed his lawsuit in August and claimed the university ran an "improper, biased, and sham investigation" that was designed to fire him following a report from Brenda Tracy, a prominent national advocate for abuse survivors, that he sexually harassed her. Tucker, a Black man, also claimed school officials discriminated against him based on his race.
The university investigation, handled by outside attorneys, found that Tucker violated the school's sexual harassment policy. Tucker unsuccessfully appealed that decision.
On Wednesday, the university's outside attorneys moved to have Tucker's lawsuit dismissed, calling it a "kitchen-sink complaint" that invokes a wide range of claims.
"In doing so, Tucker seeks to transform a meritless breach-of-contract claim into an $80-million-dollar conspiracy," attorneys wrote, adding that his claims "fail on the face of the pleadings" and that the school and its employees are protected by qualified immunity laws.
In 2022, Tucker signed a contract extension that guaranteed him about $95 million across a decade — unless the school fired him for cause.
Rita Glavin, Tucker's New York-based attorney, declined to comment.
Tucker — who has denied any wrongdoing and said he and Tracy had a consensual, intimate relationship — was suspended without pay the same day a USA Today story that included details of Tracy's report was published. Eight days later, Athletic Director Alan Haller gave Tucker a contractually required seven-day notice that he was planning to fire him, citing the coach's admitted behavior and the "public disrespect, contempt, or ridicule" it brought on the university.
Haller's letter cited language from the clause in Tucker's contract that allowed the university to fire him and not be required to pay the roughly $80 million in salary left on the contract that would otherwise have been guaranteed.
More: Experts: Ugly court fight between former coach Mel Tucker, MSU likely
Tucker and his attorneys alluded to a lawsuit before he was officially fired, and took the matter to court earlier this year.
"By improperly weaponizing the University's investigative procedures against (Tucker)," his attorneys wrote in the lawsuit, "the Defendants have caused, and continue to cause, (Tucker) to experience severe emotional harm and suffering, and have caused hundreds of millions in damages."
The lawsuit names the school, its Board of Trustees, Haller, General Counsel Brian Quinn and Teresa Woodruff, who at the time was the interim president, as defendants.
The university has requested oral arguments on its motion.
Contact reporter Matt Mencarini at mjmencarini@lsj.com.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: MSU asks federal judge to dismiss Mel Tucker's lawsuit over firing
