Lawsuits: FMU Fired Women for Reporting Sexual Misconduct
A former top Florida Memorial University (FMU) employee is suing the historically Black university, whose campus is located in the Northwest Miami-Dade municipality of Miami Gardens, alleging that she was retaliated against and eventually fired for attempting to blow the whistle on alleged sexual misconduct in the athletics department.
Wendy Ellis, who was director of community engagement and partnership development from October 2019 to October 2020, filed the complaint in Miami-Dade circuit court on November 11 — roughly a year after she says FMU president Jaffus Hardrick wrongfully fired her after she raised concerns about allegations she'd made against Ernest T. Jones, the university's then-athletic director. According to the complaint, Ellis informed Hardrick in January 2020 that three women in the athletics department disclosed to her that Jones had made unwanted sexual advances toward them, that Jones was engaging in a sexual relationship with a student basketball player, and that a student cheerleader claimed Jones was the father of her baby.
Ellis is not the only one sounding the alarm about Jones' alleged sexual misconduct. According to the Miami Times, two petitions were circulated on campus calling for Jones’ removal, at least one of which referred to him as a "sexual predator."
In fact, Ellis' lawsuit isn't even the only one filed against FMU this year that alleges retaliation by the university against employees who came forward with accusations against Jones: In late September, Stacy Anderson filed a complaint in circuit court on behalf of her late daughter, Stephanie Anderson, who was Jones' former administrative assistant. Stephanie Anderson was fired on April 6, 2021, after reporting her boss' alleged misconduct to Hardrick and the school's human resources department.
Read more: https://www.browardpalmbeach.com/news/two-lawsuits-allege-fmu-fired-employees-who-reported-sexual-misconduct-12448690