USA Today reported on Monday, January 4, 2016, that Katz, Marshall & Banks clients Jenny Moshak, Heather Mason, and Collin Schlosser had settled their gender discrimination and retaliation lawsuit against the University of Tennessee. Ms. Moshak was the former Tennessee associate director of sports medicine, while Ms. Mason and Mr. Schlosser worked as strength coaches for the Lady Volunteers. The three alleged that the university had unfairly discriminated against women coaches by paying them less than their male counterparts and refusing to allow them to coach men’s teams, a critical prerequisite to advancement in their field. The three also alleged that when they complained about this discrimination, the university retaliated against them, including by demoting and reducing the staff available to Ms. Moshak and Ms. Mason, and by terminating Mr. Schlosser.
The settlement will total over $1 million. According to Lisa J. Banks and her co-counsel, Keith Stewart, who represented the three former employees in their lawsuit against Tennessee, “The resolution of this matter stands as a testament to the importance of equality for women in sports and those working with women in sports. This settlement sends a clear message to collegiate decision-makers nationwide that disparity in pay, opportunity, funding, participation or otherwise is unacceptable in this day and time.”
Press Coverage
- Settlement reached in UT discrimination lawsuit, WBIR-Knoxville (Jan. 4, 2016) [VIDEO]
- Settlement reached in UT gender, pay discrimination lawsuit, WATE ABC-6 (Jan. 4, 2016) [VIDEO]
- Settlement Reached For Gender Discrimination Lawsuit Cost UT Over $1 Million, Lawyer Herald (Jan. 6, 2016)
- Settlement reached in UT athletics discrimination suit, USA Today (Jan. 5, 2016)
- U. of Tennessee Settles with Former Athletic Trainers, Athletic Business (Jan. 5, 2016)
- Settlement reached in Tennessee discrimination lawsuit, Associated Press (Jan. 4, 2016)
- Settlement reached in suit by ex-Lady Vols officials vs. Tennessee, ESPN (Jan. 4, 2016)
- Settlement reached in UT athletics discrimination suit, The Tennessean (Jan. 4, 2016)
- Athletics department lawsuit settlement to cost UT at least $1.05M, Knoxville News Sentinel (Jan. 4, 2016)
- Settlement reached in Tennessee discrimination lawsuit, Fox Sports (Jan. 4, 2016)
- Settlement reached in UT discrimination lawsuit, Kingsport Times News (Jan. 4, 2016)
- Settlement reached in Tennessee discrimination lawsuit, Washington Times (Jan. 4, 2016)
- Athletics department discrimination settlement to cost UT more than $1 million, Chattanooga Times Free Press (Jan. 4, 2016)
