Brenda Tracy files lawsuit against Michigan State board of trustees
June 4 - Brenda Tracy, whose sexual harassment accusations resulted in the dismissal of Michigan State football coach Mel Tucker in September 2023, filed a federal lawsuit on Tuesday against the university's Board of Trustees and two individual board members.
The 51-page lawsuit filed by Tracy accuses MSU Trustees Dennis Denno and Rema Vassar of misconduct in office. According to the suit, Denno and Vassar were responsible for leaking Tracy's name to news outlets and others during the investigation.
The suit also claims the entire MSU Board of Trustees was grossly negligent, violated the university's code of ethics and conduct and committed other alleged wrongdoing. Tracy is seeking compensatory and punitive damages exceeding $75,000.
Tucker was in the third year of a $95 million, 10-year contract at Michigan State when his contract was terminated. He had about $80 million remaining on the deal.
Tucker sued Michigan State University and school leaders in August 2024, alleging that he was wrongfully fired and his constitutional rights were violated after the sexual harassment allegations.
--Field Level Media
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
30 minutes ago
- Reuters
Adam 'Pacman' Jones pleads not guilty in officer assault case
June 12 - Former NFL defensive back Adam "Pacman" Jones pleaded not guilty to multiple charges on Wednesday following his weekend arrest, according to multiple reports. Accused of assaulting a police officer, disorderly conduct and alcohol intoxication in a public place, Jones was arrested in Kentucky on Saturday morning. Jones' lawyer addressed the charges Wednesday, accusing the police and media of embellishing the facts of the case. "The recent arrest of Adam 'Pacman' Jones in Covington, Kentucky, is yet another example of overzealous policing and the systemic issues that plague our justice system," attorney Pete Schaefer said. "Adam did nothing wrong other than exercise his right to ask why he was being detained. ... Initially, officers claimed he was being arrested for assault and then shifted to public intoxication, which, in itself, is not a crime in many jurisdictions unless it leads to dangerous behavior, and finally settled on disorderly conduct -- simply for asking why he was being detained. "This pattern of escalating and inconsistent charges is a clear abuse of authority and demonstrates a troubling trend of police officers prioritizing their own discretion over constitutional rights.'' Schaefer also suggested his client has received unfair treatment since his detention. "Adam, like every American, is innocent until proven guilty. Yet, once again, his past is being weaponized against him in the court of public opinion, while the officers involved face no scrutiny for their conduct. ... Adam deserves fairness, not another headline designed to paint him as a villain for clicks.'' Arrested several times since his playing days, Jones, 41, was most recently arrested for alleged public intoxication, assault of a police officer and evading arrest following the Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul fight at AT&T Stadium on Nov. 15, 2024. Jones played 146 career games over 12 seasons with the Tennessee Titans (2005-06), Dallas Cowboys (2008), Cincinnati Bengals (2010-17) and Denver Broncos (2018). He was a First-Team All-Pro in 2014, a Pro Bowl selection in 2015 and a member of the NFL All-Rookie Team in 2005. The punt return specialist retired from the NFL in 2019. --Field Level Media
Reuters
41 minutes ago
- Reuters
US envoy plans to meet Iran's foreign minister on Sunday, US official says
WASHINGTON, June 11 (Reuters) - U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff plans to meet Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Oman on Sunday and discuss Iran's response to a recent American proposal for a nuclear deal, a U.S. official said late on Wednesday. Iran said on Monday it will soon hand a counter-proposal for a nuclear deal to the United States in response to a U.S. offer that Tehran deems "unacceptable," while U.S. President Donald Trump said talks would continue. Trump told a podcast on Monday he was less confident that Iran will agree to stop uranium enrichment in a nuclear deal with Washington. Trump has been seeking a new nuclear deal to place limits on Iran's disputed uranium enrichment activities and has threatened the Islamic Republic with bombing if no agreement is reached. Iran has long said it has no plans to develop nuclear weapons and is only interested in atomic power generation and other peaceful projects. During his first White House term, Trump withdrew the U.S. from a 2015 deal between Iran and world powers that placed limits on Tehran's uranium enrichment drive in exchange for relief from international sanctions. Uneasy relations between Iran and the U.S. go back decades. Tehran says Washington has interfered in its affairs, citing events ranging from a 1953 coup against a prime minister to the 2020 killing of its military commander in a U.S. drone strike. Washington cites Iran's backing of militant groups in the Middle East including Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen to say that Iran poses a threat to U.S. ally Israel and Washington's interests in the region. The militant groups describe themselves as the "Axis of Resistance" to Israeli and U.S. influence in the Middle East. Trump said on Wednesday U.S. personnel were being moved out of the Middle East because "it could be a dangerous place." The decision by the U.S. to evacuate some personnel comes at a volatile moment in the region. Trump's efforts to reach a nuclear deal with Iran appear to be deadlocked and U.S. intelligence indicates that Israel has been making preparations for a strike against Iran's nuclear facilities.
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
LA protesters charged after fireworks hurled at police, officials say
A handful of Los Angeles protesters accused of hurling fireworks at police during a demonstrations against immigration raids in the city, have been criminally charged, officials announced Wednesday. While most of the protests in LA in recent days have been peaceful, there have been some bad actors accused of vandalizing property and committing violence against law enforcement, officials said. Authorities charged five protesters Wednesday. LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said at least one officer has been injured by flying fireworks. 'I've watched Molotov cocktails and fireworks, shot mortars being launched out of tubes at our officers,' the chief said, according to NBC Los Angeles. McDonnell continued: 'Let's not forget our officers face uncertain and often dangerous situations every day. And their risk to their lives has been even greater in these last few days.' Juan Rodriguez is accused of throwing commercial-grade fireworks at police during a protest on Sunday. Randy Paul Ruiz and Georgina Ravalero have been accused of driving their motorcycle into a line of officers on Sunday. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said that several officers were knocked down and one was injured. Two more people, a man and a woman, were accused of vandalizing a government building. Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said of the man who was charged: 'He was literally standing there with a paint roller, a very long stick, and writing graffiti over an area measuring about 18 feet by 12.' Luna said he 'was using beige paint, and the content of the graffiti included profanity directed at a federal agency.' While Hochman said the DA's office will 'fiercely protect' First Amendment rights, 'when that speech crosses over from protected speech into illegal conduct, the people who engage in that illegal conduct will be prosecuted.' The U.S. Attorney's Office has also charged two men, accusing them of throwing Molotov cocktails at police during the LA protests last weekend. McDonnell said on CNN Wednesday evening: 'We work very closely with District Attorney Nathan Hockman. He does give, I think, due consideration to the severity of the crime and wants to hold people accountable. ' He continued: 'It's dicey for our officers out there. But we're gonna stay the course and ensure that Los Angeles is the safe city that the residents deserve it to be.'
