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Mel Tucker Initiates Legal Action Against Michigan State University

LANSING — Former Michigan State University (MSU) football coach Mel Tucker is poised to file a lawsuit against the university unless it agrees to cover his legal expenses related to a lawsuit spearheaded by Brenda Tracy.

Tucker faced termination for cause in 2023 after Brenda Tracy reported incidents of sexual harassment, alleging that Tucker had harassed her while she was working as a vendor for the university. Tracy, known nationally for her advocacy work on behalf of abuse survivors, formally lodged a complaint against Tucker in December 2022. Following an investigation, the university’s inquiry concluded that Tucker was in violation of MSU’s sexual harassment policy, although he has consistently denied any allegations of misconduct.

In October, Tracy pursued legal action against Tucker in Ingham County Circuit Court, asserting that his defamatory statements caused her economic and emotional distress. Tracy’s claims were bolstered by Tucker’s allegations that she fabricated her accusations in a scheme intended to financially exploit both him and the university.

On Friday, Tucker’s attorney, Andrew Abood, filed a notice of intent to sue the university, a procedural step required by state law.

In his filing, Abood stated that Tracy’s lawsuit pertains to Tucker’s actions while he was fulfilling his duties as coach, thus entitling him to a defense funded by the university as stipulated in his contract and university policy. Abood noted that MSU had previously refused to shoulder Tucker’s legal fees and indicated that the impending lawsuit aims to recover at least $125,000.

Meanwhile, efforts to serve Tucker with Tracy’s lawsuit have proven challenging. Tracy and her attorney continue to seek ways to formally deliver the court documents. In a motion granted by Ingham County Circuit Court Judge Wanda Stokes in March, alternative options for service were permitted after multiple unsuccessful attempts to reach Tucker at known addresses. It was also noted that Tucker’s legal representatives did not accept the service on his behalf, leading to difficulties in advancing the case.

Both Abood and MSU spokesperson Emily Guerrant have been contacted for comments, but inquiries have gone unanswered. Tracy’s attorney, Karen Truszkowski, also chose not to comment on the ongoing situation.

Should the notice filed on Friday escalate into a legal battle, it will mark the second lawsuit currently unfolding between Tucker and Michigan State, the same institution that had previously granted him one of the most lucrative contract extensions in college football history. This extension, signed in 2022, promised Tucker approximately $95 million over ten years unless he was dismissed for cause.

Additionally, Tucker had filed a federal lawsuit against MSU in early 2024, contesting his dismissal and arguing that the investigation conducted by the university was flawed, biased, and part of a broader scheme to terminate him following Tracy’s allegations. Tucker, who is African American, also alleged that racial discrimination played a role in the actions taken against him by university officials.

The federal case remains unresolved, and recently, the university sought to have it dismissed, pending the judge’s ruling.

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