Photo Credit: Charlie Magovern/Neon Tommy

Steve Sarkisian Sues USC

Nearly two months after USC fired former head coach Steve Sarkisian, Sarkisian filed a complaint against the school in Los Angeles Superior Court Monday for wrongful termination

“Steve Sarkisian left a successful job head coaching job at the University of Washington, relying on a long-term commitment from USC,” the lawsuit begins, “a commitment USC now refuses to honor.”

The LA Times has released the full lawsuit, where it claims that USC “kicked Sarkisian to the curb” and did not provide Sarkisian “reasonable accommodation” claiming that the school did not deal properly with his alcohol disability.

The suit, which is a total of 31 pages, claims 14 causes of actions against USC. Some of the notable ones are:

1. Breach of written contract
2. Failure to accommodate
3. Discrimination on the basis of disability
4. Invasion of privacy

Sarkisian is seeking at least $12.6 million, plus other damages that are spelled out in the lawsuit. The complaint also tells Sarkisian’s account of the controversial events that happened during this season and that led to his firing.

READ MORE: USC Chooses Familiarity, Hires Clay Helton

According to the lawsuit, Sarkisian’s first incident at the annual booster event, “Salute to Troy”, was only due to a mix of medication and two beers. Yet after slurring his words, using expletives and calling out other teams, the lawsuit said athletic director Pat Haden threatened to fire him on the spot.

Haden then required Sarkisian sign a letter where he agreed to apologize for his behavior and agreed to meet weekly with a therapist at USC.

Following that incident, the lawsuit said Sarkisian did not have any other alcohol issues or incidents, including the Sept. 26 game against Arizona State, as many reports have alleged that Sark was intoxicated in that game.

The lawsuit also said Sarkisian was not inebriated during the team meeting the Sunday morning of Oct. 11 following the loss against his former team, Washington, but that he “did not feel right after drinking the night before” and as a result of lack of sleep, and the anxiety and depression the lawsuit said increased after the loss.

The lawsuit then explains that Sark did not appear “to be normal” because he took medication prescribed to him that morning. Sarkisian says he then decided to go home on his own accord and left practice to be run by Clay Helton. It was at this time, according to the lawsuit, that Sarkisian “finally decided that he needed some time away from sports to seek the professional help he so badly needed now.”

When Haden was alerted to the ongoings that day, the lawsuit said he called Sarkisian and said: “Unbelievable! Can’t you even go back to the office to finish the day?” and Sarkisian responded: “No, I need to get help. I’m not right.”

Haden then put Sarkisian on indefinite leave to seek treatment, only to fire Sarkisian the day after. According to the lawsuit, Sarkisian found out about his firing after he landed on the way to a rehab facility.

The lawsuit also said that Sarkisian has completed “an intensive rehabilitation program, is sober and ready to get back to coaching.”

UPDATE: USC has since released a statement addressing the lawsuit:

“Much of what is stated in the lawsuit filed today by Steve Sarkisian is patently untrue. While the university does not as a matter of practice comment on personnel matters or litigation, the record will show that Mr. Sarkisian repeatedly denied to university officials that he had a problem with alcohol, never asked for time off to get help, and resisted university efforts to provide him with help. The university made clear in writing that further incidents would result in termination, as it did. We are profoundly disappointed in how Mr. Sarkisian has mischaracterized the facts and we intend to defend these claims vigorously.”

READ MORE: Sarkisian Just Another Low Point Among Many For USC

OTHER NOTES:

The lawsuit said USC was in a marketing agreement with Sark Enterprises, Inc.—a company owned and represented by Sark—that paid out $1 million for “marketing services provided by Steve Sarkisian.”

The company was incorporated on Dec. 2, 2013 and Sarkisian was hired on Dec. 3, 2013. Steve Sarkisian is listed as its President and it appears this could be one way the school was able to pay Sarkisian more than his undisclosed salary.

The lawsuit alleges that Dr. Robin Scholefield, the therapist he was seeing at USC, violated Sarkisian’s privacy by disclosing his medical records to other third parties.

The lawsuit claims that USC knew of Sarkisian’s alcohol problems and that it limited “one or more major life activities.”

The lawsuit also claims that “Sarkisian was able to perform the essential duties of his position as head football coach with reasonable accommodations.”

You can reach Sports Editor Paolo Uggetti here, or follow him on Twitter@PaoloUggetti