The question about contract renewal is yet to be settled when that person is the former assistant coach of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights basketball team, Eric Murdock.
The scandal involving head coach Mike Rice Jr., fired for harassment and intimidation of players, began when Murdock requested copies of practice videos. These videos showed Rice cursing at players, shoving them, and throwing basketballs at their heads. Murdock made his request in a formal manner, under the Open Public Records Act. Tim Pernetti, the former athletics director who later resigned due to the scandal, asked Rice if there was any reason to be concerned about the release of the videos. Upon being told by Rice not to be concerned, the videos were released to Murdock without anyone at Rutgers viewing them before release.
Eventually the videos were broadcast by ESPN, which must have surely been an embarrassment to the Rutgers University leadership. Murdock’s employment contract was not renewed.
As is often the case when a whistleblower draws public attention to wrongs in the workplace, the whistleblower suffers retaliation by management, such as demotion or termination. But retaliation is illegal.
In a letter to the president of Rutgers University dated July 11, 2012, Murdock’s attorney put Rutgers on notice that he intended to pursue legal action against Rutgers for wrongful termination of Murdock pursuant to:
The above three laws serve as effective tools to protect employees who are being retaliated against for reporting workplace harassment or intimidation. If your employer is retaliating against you, learn your rights by speaking with an experienced employment retaliation attorney.