The former assistant coach of the University of Detroit Mercy basketball squad who alleged the school of wrongful dismissal last year is back. Coach Carlos Briggs, who used to play professionally as an import player here in the Philippines, has filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against the catholic school and two others claiming that he was fired after he blew the whistle on an inappropriate relationship between two former colleagues in the athletic department.

Briggs, in a lawsuit filed in Wayne County Court, accuses UDM of firing him in retaliation after he filed a whistle-blower report about the school’s former athletic director and another former assistant coach. He also filed lawsuits against the former athletic director and the school’s media consultant for defamation. Last year, Briggs vaguely implied that he had been wrongfully dismissed to cover up the misconducts of others. 

In the suit, Briggs is claiming that two former colleagues in the athletic department engaged in an inappropriate sexual relationship that affected players and created some rift within the organization. Both are married and were fired back in August after the university received the report. Briggs was fired not too long afterwards.

According to sources, players also noticed the relationship with some even reporting it to the head coach who apparently did nothing to address the matter. The relationship caused a stir in the locker room with concerned players and coaches being disfavored by the female athletic director.

Briggs claims that he filed an anonymous complaint about the relationship but his identity was revealed. A local media consultant hired by the school tarnished his reputation by releasing media statements aimed to undermine his personal integrity.

In Detroit, such a lawsuit can result in the school paying for punitive and defamatory damages. Briggs is asking the court for an amount greater than the $25,000 minimum awarded if proven. The former coach fears that his reputation has been damaged because of the schools policy.

Wrongful discharge and defamation because you did the right thing is unfair, unjustly and against the principles that made America such a strong and proud nation.

A person’s political affiliation shouldn’t be a ground for termination. Yet, there are still cases wherein employers will coerce employees to vote for a candidate they believe is good for their business. The act of impairing an employee’s career over political disagreements is considered wrong and inappropriate.

Two hours from Columbia, in Dayton, a defense contractor and its president is being named in a wrongful termination lawsuit. A woman was fired for voting for President Barack Obama in the recently concluded presidential elections. The President favors policies that discourage or lowers government spending on defense.

The lawsuit claims that the company’s president threatened to terminate employees if Obama gets re-elected and that supporters would be fired first. It also claims that the woman is paid $12 an hour with no overtime pay for hours worked over 40 in a week and is not exempt from overtime pay requirements under the Fair Labor Standards.

The plaintiff’s voting preference came up in a conversation after the election. She was fired not soon after. Company spokesperson is claiming that her termination was in the company’s best interest citing uncertainties in defense spending. The current administration is looking to make huge cuts in the federal budget as part of its efforts to save the economy from deficits.

Experts argue that the case is pitting at-will termination employment against the Ohio Revised Code 3599 which protects employees from employer intimidation and retaliation, especially those that involve elections. If won, the case may incite lawmakers to consider new employment law legislation. The employee still has to prove that she was not fired due to economic reasons.