U of Michigan settles harassment suit for $9M
The University of Michigan reached a $9.25 million settlement with eight women who were sexually harassed by Martin Philbert, the former provost and chief academic officer at the school, the school and the women’s lawyers confirmed.
The names of the eight women were not released. The settlement did not include Philbert. The women could still file a lawsuit against him.
Philbert, the second-highest administrator at the University of Michigan, had a lengthy history of sexually harassing female employees and had sexual relationships, including in university offices, while often being promoted, an independent investigation released this sum
mer found.
“Over the course of his employment by the University – while he was an assistant professor, an associate dean, Dean of SPH (School of Public Health), and Provost – Philbert sexually harassed multiple members of the university community, including both graduate students who worked in his research lab and university employees. Some allegations and other information about Philbert’s conduct reached university officials; others never came to their attention,” the report by the law firm Wilmerhale said.
Sarah Prescott, the women’s attorney, said this was an important step for the university.
“Martin Philbert is a classic harasser – he was prolific and abusive, and he had the power and connections to protect himself for years. But this case I think illustrates that there is no one too high or too powerful to be held accountable,” she said. “This is an important step forward for the university. My clients are going to work with it to continue to improve its internal processes. That was very important to them, and is a part of this agreement. They also brought about policy changes they are proud of, and this settlement number speaks for itself.
“There is a path even after this agreement for pursuing Philbert individually – this deal does not release him, and that is very unique and I will say admirable on the part of the university. It is paying for its part in this, and leaving him to shoulder what he did individually. Most employers don’t do that.”
Philbert sexually harassed women during his entire career at the university, the Wilmerhale report found.
“He directed his behavior toward women who worked in both the SPH Dean’s Office and in the Provost’s Office, including one woman he encouraged to move from the Dean’s Office to the Provost’s Office. Among other sexual comments, he told three different women that he wanted to see below their tan lines; told one woman that he was ‘aching’ for her, and that they could have ‘beautiful coffee-colored babies’ together, and told another woman that, ‘If I wasn’t married, I would really go after you.’ Philbert was persistent at times, texting at least one woman frequently, inviting her to travel with him, and arriving at work early apparently because she did.
“Philbert also continued to engage in multiple sexual relationships with university employees. For nearly his entire tenure as provost, he was in simultaneous sexual relationships with at least two university employees, sometimes more. He pressed some of these women to send him explicit photos, which he stored on his university-owned devices. And he engaged in sexual contact with them in university offices, including with one woman on a near-daily basis for a time. These relationships took a toll on the environment in the Provost’s Office and created uncomfortable dynamics among some staff.”
Philbert had been at U-M since 1995. He was fired from his position as provost in March. In June, he relinquished his faculty tenure rights and his last day at the university was June 30.