Texas Supreme Court allows suit against UT to go forward
AUSTIN — The Texas Supreme Court on Friday refused to block a sex and race discrimination lawsuit filed against the University of Texas by former women’s track and field coach Bev Kearney, who was forced out after the school learned of a romantic relationship with one of her athletes a decade earlier.
Kearney’s lawsuit claims that as a black woman, she was held to a tougher standard than a white male coach or other school officials who she alleges were in relationships with subordinates. Shortly after Kearney resigned under pressure, Texas revealed that former football assistant coach Major Applewhite was reprimanded, but not fired, for a relationship with a female student trainer on a 2009 bowl trip.
Applewhite is the coach at the University of Houston.
Kearney’s lawyers say they will press forward with their lawsuit and will seek testimony from several current and former Texas officials, including former football coach Mack Brown, former men’s athletic director DeLoss Dodds, former school president Bill Powers and current women’s athletic director Chris Plonsky.
“This means Ms. Kearney’s case will be coming back to life,” said Jody Mask, Kearney’s attorney. “Absolutely, we will be seeking those depositions as soon as we are allowed.”
No high court opinion
Two lower courts had allowed Kearney’s case to proceed before the school appealed to the state Supreme Court, which did not issue an opinion with its decision to reject the school’s request. Texas can ask the state Supreme Court to reconsider its decision, although such motions are rarely granted.
Mask said Kearney is willing to consider a settlement. Texas has paid private attorneys more than $400,000 to defend the lawsuit, according to financial records obtained by the Associated Press. More than $200,000 was paid to the law firm of attorney David Beck, who left the case when he was named to the Texas Board of Regents in early 2015.
A university spokesman said the school would not comment on Kearney or the lawsuit. School officials have said in the past that Kearney “crossed the line” of behavior for a coach and that the school acted appropriately in forcing her out. All evidence gathering and witness interviews have been on hold since the university pushed the case into the appeals courts in late 2014. That move came shortly after Kearney’s lawyers first informed Texas they would seek depositions from several former and current school officials.
Applewhite is the only person deposed so far. His interview and documents previously released to Kearney’s lawyers were sealed by a court order, requested by the university on the grounds that it was needed to protect private student information. Mask said he also will ask the trial court to lift the protective order.
“There are a host of documents we believe the public, media and taxpayers should have access to,” Mask said.
Resigned in 2013
Kearney was one of the most successful women’s track and field coaches in the country and was considered for a significant raise in 2012 until the 2002 relationship with one of her runners was reported to school officials. She resigned in January 2013 under threat of being fired. She lives in California.
Current track and field coach Mario Sategna took a personal leave last year and later was placed on administrative leave as the school conducted an ethics and conduct investigation. The reason for the investigation never was made public and Sategna was allowed to return to work in January after the school said its concerns had been addressed. The state attorney general’s office has ruled school officials can keep the results of that investigation secret.