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Sanjay Gupta, former dean at Michigan State University’s Broad School of Business, has filed a lawsuit against interim president Teresa Woodruff, former president Dr. Samuel Stanley Jr. and five other MSU employees related to his removal over alleged missteps on Title IX.
The lawsuit alleges Woodruff defamed and demoted Gupta to thwart his potential bid for the presidency to replace Dr. Stanley, who was forced out over an unrelated Title IX issue, The Detroit News reported. Other defendants also allegedly defamed Gupta or violated his due process rights, but Gupta argues that Woodruff sought to sideline him in order to obtain the presidency.
Gupta was pushed out in August in what his lawsuit claims was an involuntary resignation. He was removed for allegedly failing to report an incident at a business school event in which an intoxicated employee reportedly touched a student in an inappropriate manner. MSU officials found that by not reporting the issue, Gupta failed in his responsibilities.
Gupta argues in the lawsuit that he was not required to report the incident, since he was informed of the issue by two other deans who planned to report the matter for investigation.
The Michigan State Board of Trustees has commissioned an investigation into the Gupta incident. Under pressure from business school faculty, alumni and donors, the board voted earlier this month to release the results of the investigation when they are finalized.
Gupta remains employed at Michigan State as a tenured professor.
