Hi,

I was recently "fired" from my assistant coaching job. The term "fired" is in quotes because they're insisting that I quit, when I didn't. I was told by my head coach to pack up my office, and meet with her tomorrow where I would be fired. I was OK with this, considering that I wanted to move on, and being fired would be better for my career than quitting. However, when I returned to my office to pack it up, upon leaving, I was met with my Athletic Director and a number of police officers. I was accused of stealing files and equipment. Now, they are still insisting that I quit, and have placed me on Administrative leave. In the meantime, my name is being damaged on campus and with my former players' parents, and potential future employers that have been calling about my status. They're being told that I'm on Administrative leave for possibly stealing and deleting files of the school. In my line of work, my name is all I have, and this response is lifelong damaging. Secondly, if I wasn't fired, and I insisted that I didn't quit, which my head coach is not admitting, how could I be stealing anything. And lastly, we just recently had a coach parallel to my position quit, she packed up her entire office, and she was not accused of stealing sensitive materials.

My question is: How can I insist that the school refrain from any damaging comments about this situation until we have finalized a conclusion? They are currently asking me to render a resignation, and they would cease with any further investigation regarding these allegations. However, I now have a few demands of my own, but my attorney is not being proactive. He's saying let's sit back and see what they're going to do first. However, every day that passes is another day that my name is being dragged through the mud.

Sorry so long, but I need some good advice.
Thanks.
JDI

Sorry for the situation.

I would see if you can go to the media. This sounds something that a new station or newspaper would love to report on and I am sure your previous employers would hate the media coverage.

Not sure if it would remedy your reputation or what not though

Quote:

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Originally Posted by notcoolenough

Sorry for the situation.

I would see if you can go to the media. This sounds something that a new station or newspaper would love to report on and and i am sure your previous employers would hate the media coverage.

not sure if it would remedy your reputation or what not though

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Yeah, I was wondering if threatening to do that might stop them from speaking out slanderously. But, I definitely don't want to make matters worse... in regards to my name.

First,this question was posted in the Other Law forum. This means that responses should deal with the law. And advising someone to go to the media when their purposes is to keep things quiet is clearly counter productive.

If the OP was accused of theft, they may feel they can prove it. And truth is a defense against slander or libel. Which means any attempts to bring the media into this could easily backfire.

My advice is to push your attorney to be proactive or replace him. You may be able to get a gag order preventing the school from discussing the situation until a court decides the matter. But its likely too late for that as that would seem to be closing the barn door after the horse has escaped.

ScottGem: That was an excellent response, and I'm thinking that it may not be too late for that type of response. That's exactly what I'm looking for. But, will I have to file a law suit in order to make such a request? We're still attempting to reach an amicable conclusion.

I'm not sure whether you will need to file a suit to obtain the gag order. It may very well be that you may. Your attorney can advise better than I can about that.

Hello J:

As much as you wish to keep it OUT of court, that's where it's headed... You can't put toothpaste back in the tube. If they've besmirched your reputation, how can you say the next job you're turned DOWN for, isn't because they heard something?

As long as you have a lawyer, DO what they say. It makes NO sense to counter your lawyer. If you're NOT happy, fire them and get another.

excon