LSU Athletics exec who filed $50 million Title IX lawsuit has been fired, attorney says
Lewis v. La. State Univ.
Civil Action 21-198-SM-RLB (M.D. La. Sep. 10, 2021)
BATON ROUGE - Sharon Lewis, an LSU Athletics executive who made headlines last year when she sued the university over how it allegedly covered up Title IX complaints, is no longer employed by the school.
Lewis' attorney released a statement Tuesday confirming her termination from the athletics department.
Read the full statement below.
"The wrongful termination of Sharon Lewis by LSU is a continuation of the retaliation she has endured for reporting violations of Title IX and State Law by LSU coaches and athletic officials. LSU’s action is a clear violation of Title IX, Louisiana Whistleblower Statute and EEOC guidelines that protect employees against retaliation for reporting violations of federal and state law.On January 5, 2022, LSU’s Athletic Director Scott Woodward, who is a named defendant in Ms Lewis’ petition for damages in federal state court, terminated Ms Lewis without cause.Ms Lewis’ wrongful termination by Woodward and the LSU administration will not deter or silence her from speaking out on behalf of victims of the university’s deplorable behavior which puts students and employees at risk.
The Husch Blackwell Report documented Ms Lewis’ bravery in reporting sexual misconduct within LSU’s Athletic Department. Husch Blackwell also documented that Verge Ausberry and Miriam Segar willfully violated Title IX and lied about their conduct. Segar and Ausberry remain employed at LSU under the protection of Woodward, while Ms Lewis has been terminated without cause. There can be no clearer statement of the values of Scott Woodward and LSU’s Board Of Supervisors."
Lewis, formerly LSU's Associate Athletic Director of Football Recruiting and Alumni Relations, filed a $50 million lawsuit against the school last year alleging she was harassed and retaliated against in 2013 for trying to report inappropriate conduct from then-head coach Les Miles.
Attorneys representing Lewis said a law firm, identified in the suit as Taylor Porter, was hired to help cover up the misconduct.
Michael Bonnette, spokesperson for LSU Athletics, has not responded
to emails from the WBRZ Investigative Unit throughout the month of
January concerning Lewis' status at the school.
LSU Associate Athletic Director Sharon Lewis
"Plaintiff is an African American woman and a resident of Louisiana who has worked at Louisiana State University in the Athletics Department since approximately 2001.
Plaintiff is a graduate of LSU and was an athlete and student worker in LSU's Athletic Department.
In 2001, Plaintiff was hired as the Coordinator for Recruiting Operations under then-head football coach, Nick Saban.
In 2007, Plaintiff was promoted to Assistant Athletics Director for Football Recruiting and Alumni Relations, and she remained in that position for approximately 13 years.
In August 2020, Plaintiff was promoted to Associate Athletics Director for Football Recruiting and Alumni Relations.
Plaintiff's job duties include
management of full-time employees and approximately 40 student workers by overseeing day-to-day recruiting and related activities.
Plaintiff also oversaw recruiting events such as dinners and pregame and postgame events.
Verge Ausberry was Plaintiff's immediate supervisor at all relevant times.
Miriam Segar was the Athletics Department designee for receiving and investigating Title IX related complaints and reports at all relevant times."
PAGE 2
"On May 5, 2021, Plaintiff Sharon Lewis filed an amended complaint alleging claims under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act, and 42 U.S.C. § 1981.
This order deals with only the motions to dismiss the Title IX claims.
In her amended complaint, Plaintiff named Louisiana State University, a recipient of federal funds, the Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State UniversityWilliam Jenkins, Felton "King" Alexander; Joseph "Joe" Alleva, Scott Woodward, Leslie Edwin "Les" Miles, Verge Ausberry, and Miriam Segar as defendants
with respect to her Title IX claims.
On August 15, 2021, Plaintiff filed a Motion for Voluntary Partial dismissal, seeking to dismiss with prejudice her Title IX claims against William Jenkins, Felton “King” Alexander, Joseph Alleva, Leslie Miles, Miriam Segar and Verge Ausberry.
The Court granted the motion. On September 2, 2021, Plaintiff filed a Motion for Voluntary Partial Dismissal, seeking to dismiss with prejudice her Title IX claims against Scott Woodward with prejudice.
The Court granted the motion.
Accordingly, the only remaining Title IX defendants are LSU and the Board of… "
https://casetext.com/search?q=LSU%20Associate%20Athletic%20Director%20Sharon%20Lewis&PHONE_NUMBER_GROUP=P&sort=relevance&p=1&type=case&claims=&partyTypes=113&tab=keyword&jxs=
Lewis v. La. State Univ.
Civil Action 21-198-SM-RLB (M.D. La. Dec. 2, 2021)
13 more...
"Before the Court is a Motion for Leave to File a Second Amended Complaint and a First Amended RICO Case Statement, filed by Plaintiff Sharon Lewis."
"This conclusion is borne out by the jurisprudence. The Fifth Circuit has found that Southern University and its Board of Supervisors, and the University of Southwestern Louisiana, are entitled to sovereign immunity.
In Raj v. Louisiana State University, the Fifth Circuit concluded “the LSU Board is an arm of the state and is immune from suit under the Eleventh Amendment.”
Similarly, in the unpublished opinion of Pastorek v. Trail, the Fifth Circuit held “the LSU Board is an ‘arm of the state' that enjoys Eleventh Amendment immunity.”
Moreover, the Fifth Circuit implicitly recognized that LSU and its Board possess Eleventh Amendment immunity when it held that “LSU waived its Eleventh Amendment sovereign immunity by accepting federal funds under Title IX.”"
William Jenkins, Felton "King" Alexander; Joseph "Joe" Alleva, Scott Woodward, Leslie Edwin "Les" Miles, Verge Ausberry, and Miriam Segar as defendantswith respect to her Title IX claims.
"This conclusion is borne out by the jurisprudence. The Fifth Circuit has found that Southern University and its Board of Supervisors, and the University of Southwestern Louisiana, are entitled to sovereign immunity.
In Raj v. Louisiana State University, the Fifth Circuit concluded “the LSU Board is an arm of the state and is immune from suit under the Eleventh Amendment.”
Similarly, in the unpublished opinion of Pastorek v. Trail, the Fifth Circuit held “the LSU Board is an ‘arm of the state' that enjoys Eleventh Amendment immunity.”
Moreover, the Fifth Circuit implicitly recognized that LSU and its Board possess Eleventh Amendment immunity when it held that “LSU waived its Eleventh Amendment sovereign immunity by accepting federal funds under Title IX.”"
“Defendants Garrett Danos, Robert Yarborough, and Stanley Jacobs filed an opposition. Plaintiff filed a reply. ” Lewis v. La. State Univ., Civil Action 21-198-SM-RLB, 1 (M.D. La. Dec. 2, 2021)
The actions complained of by Plaintiff allegedly began in 2012 and 2013. On April 8, 2021, Plaintiff filed her original complaint. On April 29, 2021, the TP Defendants filed a motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim. On May 5, 2021, Plaintiff filed her first amended complaint as a matter of course without leave, in accordance with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 15(a)(1). As a result, the TP Defendants' April 29, 2021 motion to dismiss was denied as moot without prejudice on May 21, 2021.
Lewis v. La. State Univ., Civil Action 21-198-SM-RLB, 3 (M.D. La. Dec. 2, 2021)
A private cause of action for damages under RICO, specifically, a substantive racketeering claim pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1962(c), and a conspiracy-to-commit racketeering claim under 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d), against the individual defendants and the Board; and
Claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1981 against the Board.
Lewis v. La. State Univ., Civil Action 21-198-SM-RLB, 4 (M.D. La. Dec. 2, 2021)
Motion to Dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6).
Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(6), a district court may dismiss a complaint, or any part of it, for failure to state a claim upon which relief may be granted if the plaintiff has not set forth factual allegations in support of her claim that would entitle her to relief. “To survive a motion to dismiss, a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to ‘state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.'”“A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” The court, however, does not accept as true legal conclusions or mere conclusory statements, and “conclusory allegations or legal conclusions masquerading as factual conclusions will not suffice to prevent a motion to dismiss.” “[T]hreadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory statements” or “naked assertion[s] devoid of further factual enhancement” are not sufficient.
Lewis v. La. State Univ., Civil Action 21-198-SM-RLB, 8 (M.D. La. Dec. 2, 2021)
(1) Whether state law characterizes the agency as an arm of the state:
The Louisiana State University is established by state statute. The Constitution of Louisiana establishes the Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University. The Louisiana Supreme Court has stated “[i]f the office is created by the legislature, or is established in the first instance by the constitution, it is a state office.” The fact that the Board was established by the state constitution suggests that Louisiana would characterize the Board as part of the state.
Lewis v. La. State Univ., Civil Action 21-198-SM-RLB, 12-13 (M.D. La. Dec. 2, 2021)
As an agency within the executive branch, the university system administered by the Board receives funding from the state. Under the Constitution of Louisiana, “[a]ppropriations for the institutions of higher education shall be made to their managing boards. The funds appropriated shall be administered by the managing boards and used solely as provided by law.” Accordingly, by way of legislative appropriations, the Board receives state money for funding of its operations.
Lewis v. La. State Univ., Civil Action 21-198-SM-RLB, 13-14 (M.D. La. Dec. 2, 2021)
The second, most important, factor weighs heavily in support of a conclusion that the Board is an arm of the State of Louisiana.
(3) Degree of Autonomy
The Constitution of Louisiana provides the Board “shall supervise and manage” the Louisiana State University system. The underlying statutory authority for the Louisiana State University system provides the system is “composed of the institutions under the supervision and management of the Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University.” Under Louisiana law, the Board is vested with all powers “necessary to supervise and manage the day-to-day operations” of LSU, including the authority to “[s]ue and be sued.”
Lewis v. La. State Univ., Civil Action 21-198-SM-RLB, 14 (M.D. La. Dec. 2, 2021)
“[s]ubject only to the powers of the Board of Regents [as] specifically enumerated in Article VIII, Section 5 of the Constitution of Louisiana.” Article VIII, Section 5 of the Constitution of Louisiana imbues the Louisiana Board of Regents, consisting of fifteen members appointed by the Louisiana governor with the consent of the senate, with responsibility and authority to “plan, coordinate, and have budgetary responsibility for all public postsecondary education” and with “other powers, duties, and responsibilities provided in this Section or by law.” The Board of Regents has authority and responsibility over certain elements of Louisiana State University's functions and operations, and supervises the general powers of the Board.Furthermore, the Board's authority to borrow money and issues notes, bonds, or certificates of indebtedness is subject to the oversight of the State Bond Commission.
Lewis v. La. State Univ., Civil Action 21-198-SM-RLB, 15 (M.D. La. Dec. 2, 2021)
The Board is composed of fifteen members who are appointed by the governor with the consent of the senate, making the composition of the Board a matter under the control of the State of Louisiana. The Board has authority to appoint the president of the university, and the president serves at the pleasure of the Board.
Lewis v. La. State Univ., Civil Action 21-198-SM-RLB, 15 (M.D. La. Dec. 2, 2021)
(4) Whether the entity is primarily concerned with local, as opposed to statewide, problems:
The Board manages universities and campuses throughout the state of Louisiana, with campuses in Baton Rouge, Alexandria, Eunice, Shreveport, and New Orleans. In addition, the purpose of Louisiana State University is to “serve the educational needs of the people of the state.” As the operative arm of Louisiana State University, the Board's concerns are primarily statewide, as opposed to local.
Lewis v. La. State Univ., Civil Action 21-198-SM-RLB, 16 (M.D. La. Dec. 2, 2021)
The Court finds that each of the six factors to be considered points to the conclusion the Board is an arm of the State of Louisiana. As a result, the State of Louisiana is the real party in interest. The Court's holding is consistent with “[t]he majority of decisions concerning the eleventh amendment status of state universities” which have concluded “the institutions were arms of the state.” Plaintiff's first amended complaint does not name the State of Louisiana as a party, however, suit is barred if the State of Louisiana is the real party in interest behind the Board. Because the Board is an arm or alter ego of the State of Louisiana, the State of Louisiana is the real party in interest, and Eleventh Amendment immunity applies.
Lewis v. La. State Univ., Civil Action 21-198-SM-RLB, 16 (M.D. La. Dec. 2, 2021)
“For example, with respect to Plaintiff's claims against the Board under Title IX, the Fifth Circuit has held that “LSU waived its Eleventh Amendment sovereign immunity by accepting federal funds under Title IX.” ” Lewis v. La. State Univ., Civil Action 21-198-SM-RLB, 17 (M.D. La. Dec. 2, 2021)
"Until the release of the report in March 2021, plaintiff was unaware the Board of Supervisors had knowledge of the pervasive harassment, heightened risk of retaliation plaintiff, students and employees suffered for reporting Title IX complaints. Plaintiff was also unaware of the severe institutional level of procedural deficiencies that avoided discipline for athletic coaches and athletic officials that retaliated against plaintiff for filing Title IX complaints, creating a basis to impute knowledge of Title IX violations and other wrongs in the Athletic Department to the Board of Supervisors."
PAGE 28
"In Agency Holding Corporation v. Malley-Duff & Associates, the Supreme Court applied a four-year statute of limitations for civil RICO claims. Finding that “the civil action provision of RICO was patterned after the Clayton Act, ” the Supreme Court adopted the Clayton Act's four-year limitations period for private antitrust damage claims. After the Supreme Court's decision in Malley-Duff-which left open the question of when a civil RICO claim accrues-three different approaches emerged among the federal courts of appeals on the question of accrual. Some courts of appeals applied an injury-discovery rule, others applied an injury plus pattern discovery rule, and the Third Circuit applied a rule known as the “last predicate act” rule. , In Klehr v. A.O. Smith Corp, the Supreme Court expressly rejected the last predicate act rule because application of the last predicate act rule could potentially result in courts applying a decades-long limitations period, which would conflict with the basic objective of repose- an important goal of limitations law. In Rotella v. Wood, the Supreme Court rejected the injury plus pattern rule of accrual. In rejecting the injury plus pattern… "
PAGE 40
Roberts v. Wake Forest University
286 S.E.2d 120 (N.C. Ct. App. 1982) Cited 12 times
Holding that there was no employment contract where personnel manual provided that after three months an employee became a "permanent employee," where there was no additional expression as to duration
"Plaintiff sought to recover damages for breach of an oral employment contract as Golf Coach and Associate Athletic Director made in July 1976 with Wake Forest University by its agents Eugene Hooks, Athletic Director, and James R. Scales, President. Plaintiff alleged that although the duration of the contract was not fixed, the parties intended the employment to be for a reasonable time, at least six years, but that his contract as golf coach was terminated and the University hired Jesse Haddock as golf coach on 2 December 1977 without notice to plaintiff."
Minnis v. Bd. of Supervisors of La. State Univ.
972 F. Supp. 2d 878 (M.D. La. 2013) Cited 12 times
Granting motion to dismiss insofar as complaint sought punitive damages under Title IX
"Before the Court is Defendants' Motion to Dismiss Complaint Pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) (Doc. 8). Also before the Court is Defendants' Supplemental Motion to Dismiss Complaint Pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) (Doc. 21). Plaintiff, Anthony Minnis (“Plaintiff,” or “Minnis”), filed this lawsuit against the Board of Supervisors of Louisiana State University (“LSU”), as well as Miriam Segar, in her individual and official capacity as Senior Women's Administrator of the Louisiana State University Athletic Department (“Segar”), Joseph Alleva, in his individual and official capacity as Athletic Director (“Alleva”), and Eddie Nunez, in his individual and official capacity as Associate Athletic Director (“Nunez”) (collectively, “Administrator Defendants”), after he was terminated from his position as Women's Tennis Coach at LSU (Doc. 1). Minnis alleges various claims: impairment of contract on the basis of race in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1981; various claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, including violations of Minnis's rights under the First and Fourteenth Amendments."
Attorneys for LSU and Lewis both recently submitted court filings about their plans to conduct discovery in the case and their intentions to keep certain information — such as the identities of the students who accused Miles of harassment — confidential.
Those defendants include LSU Athletic Director Scott Woodward, Executive Deputy Athletic Director Verge Ausberry Senior Associate Athletic Director Miriam Segar; Taylor Porter attorneys Shelby McKenzie, Vicki Crochet, Bob Barton; and LSU board members James Williams Mary Leach Werner.
Lewis has the option, however to bring new RICO claims if the alleged violations happened after April 2017.
LSU suspended Segar for twenty one days after the house found that she committed a blunder in 2016 by keeping former star running back Derrius Guice's name off a report of rape from a member of LSU's swimming and diving team.“Because of this omission, when Guice was accused of ensuant misconduct by different students as discussed below, this first report was not thought-about or revisited," Husch Blackwell attorneys wrote.Guice has been defendant of sexual misconduct by four girls during his time at LSU.
Those defendants include LSU Athletic Director Scott Woodward, Executive Deputy Athletic Director Verge Ausberry Senior Associate Athletic Director Miriam Segar; Taylor Porter attorneys Shelby McKenzie, Vicki Crochet, Bob Barton; and LSU board members James Williams Mary Leach Werner.
Lewis has the option, however to bring new RICO claims if the alleged violations happened after April 2017.
LSU suspended Segar for twenty one days after the house found that she committed a blunder in 2016 by keeping former star running back Derrius Guice's name off a report of rape from a member of LSU's swimming and diving team.“Because of this omission, when Guice was accused of ensuant misconduct by different students as discussed below, this first report was not thought-about or revisited," Husch Blackwell attorneys wrote.Guice has been defendant of sexual misconduct by four girls during his time at LSU.
Sharon Lewis lawsuit against LSU for Retaliation during her employment in University's Athletics Department for years--over her attempts to report Sexual Harassment by and from former LSU TIGERS Head Football Coach Les Miles.
A
federal judge on Thursday dismissed a major component of a lawsuit that
LSU Associate Athletic Director Sharon Lewis filed against the
university this spring, tossing out her claims that LSU and its attorneys violated the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, better known as RICO.
Lewis filed suit against LSU in state and federal court, alleging LSU Athletic Department
superiors
retaliated against her for trying to report former coach Les Miles was sexually harassing student workers [A
SEPARATE FEDERAL CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FILED BY SEVEN WOMEN WILL BE
HEARD SEPARATE FROM THIS MATTER, OF WHICH LEWIS IS A PLAINTIFF, AFTER
RECENT FEDERAL DISTRICT RULING DISPOSED OF LAWSUIT DESCRIBED HERE
WITHOUT PREJUDICE FOR A FILING DATE TECHNICALITY]
Lewis' Federal lawsuit made dozens of accusations against LSU ...
including list of defendants who conspired to
"destroy (her) property rights in her employment."
Those defendants included
LSU Board of Supervisors,
Les Miles
LSU's former President F. King Alexander
attorneys from Taylor Porter law firm
U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan dismissed RICO claims, and granted Motion to Dismiss charges against:
Les Miles
Former President William Jenkins
Former LSU-BOS Appointees
Hank Danos
Robert 'Bobby' Yarborough
AND
Stanley Jacobs.
sexual
lawsuit
report
title
officials
director
athletic
violence not fall under Title
IX
LSU conspired to hide up reports of sexual misconduct and dating violence, new legal proceeding claims.
LSU associate athletic director of football recruiting Sharon Lewis attorney claims she was victim, used by LSU for recruiting alumni relations.
Larry English told Jim Engster that a male coach at LSU exposed his genital organ to Lewis in 2013.
English said the coach was recently rehired at LSU, however, declined to call him out until the sexual misconduct claims are accessorial to Lewis’s causa.
English said Lewis reported claims to LSU Officials, Verge Ausberry and Miriam Segar.
No actions were taken.
“We have separate people that Ms. Lewis spoke to in 2013, and it’s documented,” English told Engster.
“We are to be amending pleading to feature.”
LSU suspended Ausberry and Segar without pay in March 2021, following discharge of Husch Blackwell Report, whose in-depth review found university failed to properly report and investigate allegations of sexual misconduct and domestic violence.
Ausberry was suspended for thirty days; Segar served a 21-day suspension. Both Ausberry and Segar continued to conduct business via email while suspended.
“Ms. Lewis reported this data to Miriam Segar and Verge Ausberry. Zilch was done,” English said.
“Every individual who made positive statements in Hush Blackwell Report has been purged by LSU over last many months.”
Lewis, no longer employed at LSU, filed $50 million lawsuit Apr. 2021, claiming retaliation for coverage allegations:
former LSU football coach Les Miles sexually harassed staff.
LSU officials Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act to hide-up Title IX complaints pink-slipped Dec. 2.
Attorneys representing Lewis said she was discharged without cause by LSU athletic director Scott Woodward, Jan five.“We are confident this case moves to trial--and we greatly wish Sharon Lewis's retaliation as suffered in 2012, when first reporting Miles’ conspicuous behavior toward student employees, would be the end,” English said.
Lewis's request to testify before State Senate Committee in school’s ongoing Title IX judicial proceeding Apr. 2021, is barred by LSU in a policy restricting responsive queries concerning allegations faculty officials mishandled sexual harassment and Title IX complaints.
English claims Lewis was dismissed without cause via letter by LSU athletic director Scott Woodward on Jan five.
Democratic Regina Barrow, who chairs LA State Senate committee on ladies and kids, said Feb. two, Lewis will have chance to testify.
The committee is comprised of seven members —
Barrow, Heather Cloud (R-Ville Platte),
Sharon Hewitt (R-Chalmette),
Katrina Jackson (D-Monroe),
Fred Mills (R-New Iberia),
beth Mizell (R-Franklinton)
and
Tibeto-Burman Carter Peterson (D-New Orleans)
“Ms. Lewis desires sit before state legislative assembly, under oath, to tell her story,” English said. “Her story mattering is case.”
English said sex-conduct claims notclose per initial causa, Lewis mental health.
”She had mental breakdown, 2013,” English said.
“Victims have return terms of sex violence a troublesome journey.”
A gaggle of former students filed suit, claiming faculty officials violated federal law by failing to properly respond to allegations of statutory offenses and violence against several LSU football players: Lewis is among thirteen defendants in U.S. District judge Wendy Vitter, Title IX proceeding against LSU.
Lewis joins LSU football recruiting workplace 2002,
is promoted to senior associate Aug. 2020
oversees football on-campus recruiting activities
oversees recruiting employees
Lewis is also president of LSU National L Club. L Club president is nonappointive position independent of university administration.
“We ought acknowledge Ms. Lewis absorbing foremost power institutions in state,” English said.
“They have tremendous power.
They need tremendous power.
This can be frightening.
Ms. Lewis is battling twenty-five lawyers paid by Louisiana, whose job is to discredit her.”
LSU for getting even during her employment in University Athletics Department--over her attempts to report sexual harassment by and from former LSU TIGERS Head football coach Les Miles.
A federal judge weekday-pink-slip dismissed component of causa LSU Associate Athletic Director Sharon Lewis filed against university, tossing out claims LSU, attorneys violated Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, better as RICO.
An attorney for LSU Senior Associate Athletic Director, Miriam Segar, sent a letter Tuesday to the Senate select committee on ladies and children telling members that Segar would not testify at their Apr eight hearing.
Segar was one of 2 workers LSU disciplined in the wake of the release of the Husch Blackwell report on sexual misconduct. LSU suspended Segar for twenty one days after the house found that she committed a blunder in 2016 by keeping former star running back Derrius Guice's name off a report of rape from a member of LSU's swimming and diving team.“Because of this omission, when Guice was accused of ensuant misconduct by different students as discussed below, this first report was not thought-about or revisited," Husch Blackwell attorneys wrote.Guice has been defendant of sexual misconduct by four girls during his time at LSU. The swimming and diving team member was the first to accuse him. His attorney has denied wrongdoing from his time at LSU.
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Segar came back to figure last week. but her high-powered state capital attorney, Mary Olive Pierson, wrote in a letter to the Senate commission on ladies and kids that Segar was disingenuous in the Husch Blackwell report."What looks to be missing in this current atmosphere of accusations and denials is a lucid misunderstanding or intentional denial of Ms. Segar's job responsibilities by the firm hired by LSU to 'investigate' the problems relating to sexual misconduct news in the athletic department of LSU," Pierson wrote. Pierson wrote that she advised Segar to not testify before the committee based on her own "potential and heavy claims against Husch Blackwell" and based on the chance that she will be named as a suspect in a lawsuit from another Athletic Department official, Sharon Lewis. Read the complete letter below.
Investigative reportage is additional essential than ever, that is why we’ve established the Louisiana inquiring Journalism Fund, a non-profit supported by our readers.To learn a lot of, please click here.
Lewis' Federal lawsuit made dozens of accusations against LSU ...
including list of defendants who conspired to
"destroy (her) property rights in her employment."
Those defendants included
LSU Board of Supervisors,
Les Miles
LSU's former President F. King Alexander
attorneys from Taylor Porter firm
U.S. District judge Susie Morgan dismissed Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act claims, and granted Motion to Dismiss charges against:
Les Miles
Former President William Jenkins
Former LSU-BOS Appointees
Hank Danos
Robert 'Bobby' Yarborough
AND
Stanley Jacobs.
She ruled that Lewis' assertions against them were time-barred.
Morgan additionally
dismissed Lewis' Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act claims against several other LSU employees and attorneys based on allegations that predated Apr eight, 2017.
Those defendants
include LSU Athletic Director Scott Woodward, govt Deputy Athletic Director Verge Ausberry Senior Associate Athletic Director Miriam Segar; Taylor Porter attorneys Shelby McKenzie, Vicki Crochet, Bob Barton; and LSU board members James Williams Mary Leach Werner.
Lewis has the choice, but to bring new Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act claims if the alleged violations happened after Apr 2017.
wafb.com
TEXT MESSAGES: $100K payoff demand made by man claiming to represent Guice controversialist
3-4 minutes
BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - Text messages obtained by the 9NEWS Investigators through a public records request show LSU senior associate athletic director Miriam Segar confronted a person named Cleave Williams who demanded bribe over sexual, verbal harassment allegations against star Tiger footballer Derrius Guice.
Williams, an instructor from New Orleans, told the LSU officials that he was helping out Scott and her family in the matter.
The woman who raised those allegations, Gloria Scott, 74, claims when she encountered Guice at the Louisiana Superdome in 2017, he made crude sexual comments to her and grabbed his reproductive organ.
On Monday, April 5, Scott told capital of Louisiana media reporters that Williams never had permission to demand cash on her behalf.
See the text messages below:
“TUESDAY DEC 19. 5:07 P.M.
MIRIAM SEGAR: this is often this can be MIRIAM SEGAR
WEDNESDAY., DEC 20, 6:54 P.M.
CLEAVON WILLIAMS: salutation MS. MIRIAM; DID U GET an opportunity to urge WITH mister VERGE??
MIRIAM SEGAR : affirmative I SPOKE TO HIM AND LET HIM grasp THAT MS GLORIA TOLD YOU SHE WAS reaching to CONTACT THE MEDIA
CLEAVON WILLIAMS: are you able to raise to relinquish me A call @ HIS EARLIEST? THANKS
MIRIAM SEGAR: OK
FRIDAY, DEC 22 11:35 A.M.
CLEAVON WILLIAMS: HELLO; AS PER mister. VERGE REQUEST; I even have CONTACTED MS. GLORIA AND requested HER $ quantity. SHE ASKED me to speak along with her grandchild (MR. WENDELL JOHNSON)I FINALLY MET WITH THE grandson ON LAST NIGHT. I requested A $ quantity. THE grandson declared THAT DUE TO: PUBLIC EMBARRASSMENT & harassment THE FAMILY IS REQUESTING $100K COMPENSATION for his or her granny. HE expressed THAT MS. GLORIA IS showing emotion distraught, CRIES UPON BED TIME AND HAS pain. HE also requested THAT I FORWARD a duplicate OF THE SUPERDOME report back to YOU GUYS. PLEASE LET me grasp WHAT DIRECTION YOU GUYS would like me to inform
TUESDAY DEC twenty six 1:10 P.M.
------------------
Attorneys for LSU and Lewis both recently submitted court filings about their plans to conduct discovery in the case and their intentions to keep certain information — such as the identities of the students who accused Miles of harassment — confidential. Attorneys for Miles also filed a motion Jan. 24 for sanctions against Lewis’ attorneys, arguing that they failed to “conduct a reasonable prefiling investigation of the law and facts before asserting unsupported and unfounded Title IX and Civil RICO claims against Miles.”
Morgan has not ruled yet on those issues.
In state court, Lewis has moved to recuse Baton Rouge District Court Judge Timothy Kelley from her case, citing Kelley’s disclosure of a longtime friendship with a partner at the Taylor Porter law firm. Taylor Porter was a defendant in the case, but no longer is. A retired judge will hear arguments next month on whether to recuse Kelley.
- lawsuit said.Guice attempted to rape her in fall 2016, she said, and then spread rumors around the football program that she would have sex with anyone, which led to additional sexual advances from others.
She ruled that Lewis' assertions against them were time-barred. Morgan also dismissed Lewis' RICO claims against several other LSU employees and attorneys based on allegations that predated April 8, 2017. Those defendants
include LSU Athletic Director Scott Woodward, Executive Deputy Athletic Director Verge Ausberry Senior Associate Athletic Director Miriam Segar; Taylor Porter attorneys Shelby McKenzie, Vicki Crochet, Bob Barton; and LSU board members James Williams Mary Leach Werner.
Lewis has the option, however to bring new RICO claims if the alleged violations happened after April 2017.
Lewis can also keep trying to sue them for retaliation, the judge ordered. Morgan, a federal judge based in the New Orleans Eastern District Court, is overseeing Lewis' case because all Baton Rouge-based federal judges recused themselves. Lewis is a defendant in another federal lawsuit that a group of former students filed this spring against LSU. The students claim university officials violated federal Title IX laws that prohibit gender discrimination by failing to properly respond to their allegations of sexual assault and domestic violence, largely involving LSU football players. That lawsuit also includes RICO allegations. As for her case against LSU in Baton Rouge district court, Lewis has a hearing scheduled for Monday over whether a judge should stay the state lawsuit until the federal suit has concluded. Baton Rouge District Judge Timothy Kelley will also take up
arguments from Taylor Porter attorneys and LSU board members that Lewis has no grounds to sue them and that she failed to file her lawsuit in a timely manner.
LSU
AND JOHN GOTTI--RICO SUAVEFormer LSU
student Calise Richardson said she and other students in LSU Football Recruiting Office Encouraged to Do Anything to Lure Future LSU Tiger Football Recruits on Official Visits ... including HAVE SEX
Former LSU student Calise Richardson said she and other students in LSU Football Recruiting Office Encouraged to Do Anything to Lure Future LSU Tiger Football Recruits on Official Visits ... including HAVE SEX
 |
|
As always, thank you for your continued support of our university, and Geaux Tigers!
Thomas C. Galligan Jr.
LSU President and Professor of Law
LSU AND JOHN GOTTI ARE RICO SUAVE
Seven women filed a Federal Class-Action Lawsuit against Louisiana State University, its Leadership, Athletic Fundraising Arm and several Top Administrators, alleging:
Conspired Cover-Up Women Sexual Misconduct Reports
Dating Violence
Discriminated Against Female Students
Deprived them of Civil Rights
The women include three former LSU tennis
players, two former football recruiting office student workers, a former
student and a current student.
Together, they accused the
school of prioritizing its reputation and football program above their
safety and welfare and for creating a “culture of silence” where student
victims were discouraged from and retaliated against for reporting
Title IX offenses, according to a copy of the 124-page lawsuit obtained
by USA TODAY.
They are seeking damages in excess of $5 million, plus court costs.
All
seven previously shared their accounts of assault, harassment and
institutional betrayal with USA TODAY, whose reporting on the cases led
LSU to hire an outside law firm, Husch Blackwell, to review its handling
of them.
LSU football sidelined, Husch
Blackwell confirm report found "serious
institutional failure” in LSU’s response to physical and gendered
violence complaints.
The class-action status of the women’s
lawsuit means others who were harmed by LSU’s failures to provide
resources for student victims of sex discrimination from 2013 to the
present can potentially join as plaintiffs.
Attorneys for the women said they believe the affected class extends to thousands of current and former students.
“We
have filed an action against LSU on behalf of the young women that have
bravely come forward, the young people that are still afraid, and every
young person who had the dream of going to LSU,” said Karen
Truszkowski, an attorney for the women.
“Until
the priorities shift back to the mission of this university, the
flagship school of Louisiana, to educate and support young people in
their quest to better themselves, we will not stop the quest for
change.”
The lawsuit is latest fall from grace of
LSU Failure to Protect Women from Gendered Violence and Harassment.
The
U.S. Department of Education is conducting two investigations into the
university for violating Title IX and the Clery Act – two federal laws
meant to protect students from interpersonal violence and sex
discrimination.
LSU also disciplined two athletic administrators in connection with the scandal, and two former top LSU employees lost their jobs at other universities – the University of Kansas parted ways with football coach Les Miles, and Oregon State University accepted the resignation of President F.
King Alexander.
This is the second lawsuit against LSU and its leaders filed this month.
Sharon
Lewis, longtime LSU Football Recruiting Director, filed 2013 Sexual Misconduct claims
alleging 'Retaliation by LSU Supervisors,' and other RICO-like 'Organized Criminal Enterprise'
AND
'Title IX' Cover-up Complaint charges against Louisiana State University Football Coach, Les Miles, and others--claims university retaliated against her.
'Title IX' Cover-up Complaint charges against Louisiana State University Football Coach, Les Miles, and others--claims university retaliated against her.
Lewis filed a lawsuit against LSU for retaliation in downtown Baton Rouge, April 4, 2021.
LSU VP for Communications, Jim Sabourin said, "School wars Law." --t. Con Seque., Edi iii
“We
focus on action--just, and worthy of trusts be placed in us,” said Sabourin.
"School wars Law." --t. Con Seque., Edi iii
“We focus on action--just, and worthy of trusts be placed in us,” said Sabourin.
Defendants in Lawsuit include former, and current Athletic Department Officials, Tiger Athletic Foundation (TAF)
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for over a year now, covering the Tigers
for over a year now, covering the Tigers