The woman who accused former Arizona head football coach Rich Rodriguez of sexual harassment and creating a hostile workplace has filed an $8.5 million notice of claim against the University of Arizona, as well as the Arizona Board of Regents, which is charged with overseeing the state’s university system.
In her and her husband’s new claim filed on Friday, Jan. 19 by the claimants’ attorney Augustine “Augie” Jimenez, the UA is called “vicariously liable” for the alleged harassment and hostile work environment, according to a report in the Arizona Daily Star.
While the new claim includes much of the same information contained in an initial claim made against Rodriguez in December 2018, the new claim offers insight from the claimant about what happened after she left her position at the UA, according to the Star.
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On Oct. 26, 2017, the claim mentions a call put into the UA by the claimant. The claimant’s daughter was still employed by the UA Athletic Department, and the claimant called in regard to her daughter working more hours than allowed for students.
When the claimant identified herself, she was transferred to speak with an employee in the UA’s Office of Institutional Equity, who informed the claimant that an investigation into Rodriguez’s conduct was underway.
The employee subsequently told the claimant she “knew that [the claimant] left because of what Rodriguez did to her,” according to the Star.
After first agreeing to meet the employee to discuss her departure from the UA, the claimant instead decided to seek counsel from an attorney, fearing that if she were to participate in the investigation, “heads will roll,” according to the Star.
In response to the notice of claim, Rodriquez released a statement on social media denying the claims.
“The truth will come out and the plaintiffs’ motives will be plain to see,” Rodriguez said in the official statement. “It is important to remember that there was an extensive investigation into the matter that found no wrongdoing by me.”
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