Mel Tucker tells MSU he’ll document wrongful termination lawsuit

Fired Spartans soccer educator Mel Tucker knowledgeable Michigan Environment College on Thursday that he’s getting ready to document a possible wrongful termination lawsuit in opposition to the varsity.

Tucker’s lawyer despatched a letter to Michigan Environment’s basic suggest asking for that the varsity guard digital and paper information for all contributors of the athletic area together with a number of alternative college workers “in anticipation of litigation.”

Michigan Environment fired Tucker for cause Wednesday, more or less one time upcoming sexual abuse prevention recommend Brenda Tracy accused the educator of sexually harassing her upcoming she shrunk to paintings with the soccer program.

Athletic director Alan Haller stated Tucker was once being fired for cause as a result of his “admitted and undisputed behaviors … brought public disrespect, contempt and ridicule upon the university; and constitute a material breach of his agreement, and moral turpitude.”

Tucker’s lawyer, Jennifer Belveal, referred to as Michigan Environment’s movements an “illegal termination” in her letter. Via firing Tucker for reason, Michigan Environment isn’t liable for paying Tucker any of the just about $79 million that remained on his long agreement with the soccer program.

Tucker contested the firing in multiple public statements and in a letter despatched to Haller closing month.

Michigan Environment suspended Tucker with out pay Sept. 10, one presen upcoming information about his alleged sexual harassment of Tracy have been made family in a tale printed by means of USA Nowadays. Tracy filed a sexual misconduct declare with the college in December 2022, claiming that Tucker made unwanted sexual feedback to her and masturbated all the way through a telephone name with out her consent.

The college leased an outdoor investigator to resolve if Tucker violated the varsity’s sexual misconduct coverage. A listening to to make a decision if there was once any violations is scheduled for later month.

Tucker, who says he’s estranged from his spouse, advised the investigator that he had an intimate dating with Tracy and that his conduct at the telephone name was once consensual. He stated that his interactions with Tracy have been a non-public subject and no longer matching to his paintings at Michigan Environment. Nearest he was once suspended, Tucker criticized the investigation, calling it a “sham.” He stated he’s being fired with out due procedure.

Haller advised Tucker in a letter closing month that he has violated the phrases of his agreement irrespective of the end result of his pending sexual harassment listening to as a result of he admitted to having a sexual come upon with a lady who was once leased by means of the college as a supplier, amongst alternative causes.

Within the letter despatched Thursday to Michigan Environment’s basic suggest, Tucker requested the college to keep all telephone information, laptop information and bodily recordsdata generated by means of athletic area workers, the overall suggest’s workplace, the college and all contributors of Michigan Environment’s board of trustees, amongst others.