понедельник, 11 июля 2011 г.

Former football coach sues college - News

Former Head Football Coach James Kuk has filed a lawsuit against the college district and Board of Trustees for more than $200,000, plus additional unspecified damages, over his termination almost a year ago.

This is the second consecutive time that a former football coach has sued the district.

According to court documents, Kuk, who was hired by PCC in 2008, is suing for failure to immediately pay wages, breach of oral contract, fraud and deceit and negligent misrepresentation as well as "special damages" for an amount that will be determined at trial.

A hearing in the case will be held on Tuesday in Los Angeles.

PCC President Mark Rocha said he is unable to comment on matters such as this.

"As this is a legal matter, it is in the hands of college General Counsel," he said on Tuesday. "The college can have no comment on confidential legal and personnel matters."

Sports Information Specialist Robert Lewis and General Counsel to PCC Mary Dowell could not comment while PCC's legal representative in the case Stephan Birgel of Walsh & Associates could not be reached for comment.

According to the amended lawsuit, Kuk was hired for two football seasons, then was told by the Athletic Director/Dean of Kinesiology, Health and Athletics Division Beverly Tate that he would be given a two year contract.

The suit alleges that Tate and Kuk continued with oral communication about the development of the contract until August 2010, when he met with Rocha under the assumption that the new contract had been drawn up and was ready for approval.

Rocha did not present the contract. Instead, Rocha "informed Coach Kuk that he was being relieved of his duties as Head Football Coach effective immediately," according to the lawsuit documents.

Later, Kuk met again with Rocha, Tate and the Vice President of Human Relations Lyle Engeldinger along with PCC Faculty Association representatives. Rocha offered Kuk a separation package and letter of recommendation, a gesture Kuk's defense called a "pittance."

PCC's football coach before Kuk was Kenneth Lawler, who sued the school for defamation, emotional distress, violation of public policy and violation of Lawler's due process rights, according to a previous article in the Courier.

In the previous case, Lawler's attorney also said that Lawler's employment was to be terminated on June 30, 2009.

The coach had been investigated for recruiting a football player with a record of sexual offenses according to the report.

Kuk is currently serving as a defensive back coach for Riverside Community College's football team.

Additional reporting by Melissa Lagarde and Christopher Smith

Комментариев нет:

Отправить комментарий