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Former University of Michigan football staffer has sued the university, arguing it withheld records related to the more than $11 million investigation into the coach and the athletic department.
Paige Shiver filed the lawsuit Wednesday in Washtenaw County Circuit Court, alleging the University of Michigan wrongfully denied her six public records requests for information related to the investigation into former football Coach Sherrone Moore, who the university determined was in an inappropriate relationship with Shiver.
UM fired Moore over his relationship with Shiver in December, the aftermath of which led to Moore barging into Shiver's home, threatening her and himself with kitchen knives and ending with Moore being sentenced to 18 months of probation in April after pleading no contest to trespassing and the malicious use of a telecommunications device.
In the lawsuit, Shiver wrote that she was seeking information about Moore's inappropriate relationship with her and "other potential harassment" at Michigan.
"Throughout the duration of her employment with the University of Michigan, SHIVER was discriminated against and subjected to a hostile work environment on the basis of her sex, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and Michigan law including Elliot-Larsen Civil Rights Act," according to the lawsuit. "In addition, unidentified University of Michigan employees violated SHIVER’s privacy rights as well as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act through unauthorized access of SHIVER’s medical records."
Michigan spokesperson Paul Corliss declined to comment on the lawsuit.
In February, Shiver's attorney sent a public records request to Michigan looking for the entire investigatory file into Moore's firing, including any communications or tips about her and Moore's relationship. UM denied the request, claiming it would interfere with an ongoing investigation.
The next month, the attorney asked for all emails received at an email tip line set up by Jenner & Block, the law firm investigating the culture of UM's athletic department. This investigation was sparked by rumors of Moore's conduct and later expanded to cover concerns related to the entire athletic department.
Michigan denied this request, saying no such records existed.
