(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Three months after he was fired over a hazing scandal, former head football coach Pat Fitzgerald is suing Northwestern University for wrongful termination, defamation and breach of contract.
Attorney Dan Webb says the lawsuit seeks $130 million -- for what Fitzgerald had remaining on his coaching contract and lost future job earnings, plus unspecified punitive damages.
Webb, a former U.S. attorney, points to a comment from University President Michael Schill that there was no evidence the coach was aware of any hazing – a statement made days before Fitzgerald’s termination.
Northwestern said Fitzgerald had the responsibility to know hazing was occurring and to stop it but failed to.
Later, Webb’s comments were answered forcefully by attorneys representing many of the alleged hazing victims.
Tony Romanucci says the suggestion that anyone would fabricate claims of sexual abuse is “offensive.”
He also suggested that the purpose of the lawsuit is to intimidate their clients.