Michigan State University is seeking to dismiss a wrongful termination lawsuit brought by former football coach Mel Tucker.
The motion, which was filed on Wednesday in U.S. District Court, called the lawsuit “meritless” and an “$80 million conspiracy.” It comes in response to Tucker suing the university for being fired in September 2023 due to allegations of sexual harassment.
“Tucker’s claims all fail on the face of the pleadings, which include his employment contract and related records,” lawyers for Michigan State write in the motion. “And most of Tucker’s claims are also barred by federal and state qualified immunities.”
Tucker was initially suspended and then fired last fall after Brenda Tracy, a rape survivor and activist he hired to educate the team in 2021 about sexual violence, accused him of sexual harassment, including masturbating on a phone call with her.
Michigan State athletic director Alan Haller suspended Tucker after Tracy went public with her allegations in a story by USA TODAY and then provided written notice of his intention to fire the fourth-year coach. Tucker was officially fired on Sept. 27, 2023, less than two years after signing a 10-year, $95 million contract extension that was fully guaranteed.
In firing Tucker, Michigan State cited his contract, which could be terminated if he “engages in any conduct which constitutes moral turpitude or which, in the university’s reasonable judgment, would tend to bring public disrespect, contempt or ridicule” to the school.
That clause is cited in the motion to dismiss filed on Wednesday as Michigan State defended its position to fire Tucker after he was found to have violated the school’s Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct and Title IX policy in the complaint brought by Tracy.
“Tucker fails to state a single plausible claim for relief,” the motion states.
Although Tucker admitted to masturbating on a phone call with Tracy, he claimed the two had a mutual relationship, which Tracy denied. He also admitted to making flirtatious statements and commenting about her physical appearance.
“It is highly inappropriate and improper to engage in extramarital sexual conduct with a vendor,” Haller wrote in his termination letter to Tucker, “let alone an honorary captain of the football team, whose mission is to educate coaches and student-athletes, and specifically the university’s football student-athletes under your direction, on sexual misconduct.”
Tucker on July 31 filed a 75-page lawsuit against Michigan State, Haller, former interim president Teresa Woodruff, general counsel Brian Quinn and members of the Board of Trustees. Tucker, who is Black, alleged racial discrimination and claims university leaders trampled his rights to protect their own interests and violated protocols by firing him. Although his lawsuit didn’t specify the amount he’s seeking, the $80 million figure mentioned in Michigan State’s motion to dismiss is about what was left on his contract before being fired.
Tracy earlier this month filed a lawsuit against Tucker for defamation. That was after she filed documents in March with the Michigan Court of Claims indicating her intention to sue Michigan State for $75 million.
- BETTING: Check out our guide to the best Michigan sportsbooks, where our team of sports betting experts has reviewed the experience, payout speed, parlay options and quality of odds for multiple sportsbooks.
Latest MSU football news:
- The night game (almost) no one wants: Michigan vs. Michigan State
- Your A to Z guide to the Michigan-MSU football game in Ann Arbor
- Big Ten picks: MLive’s predictions for Michigan-Michigan State and more
- How Michigan State is preparing for Michigan’s QB mess
- Michigan CB Will Johnson ‘working’ to play vs. rival MSU