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Former Professor Suing UF's Law School

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By TOM BRENNAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 10, 2009

TAMPA - A former University of Florida law professor has sued the school, claiming she was forced to resign after complaining about racism.

Sherrie Russell-Brown filed her discrimination lawsuit in federal court in Gainesville last week against the university's Levin College of Law, its board of trustees and law school Dean Robert H. Jerry.

In an e-mail to students Monday, Jerry called the allegations "baseless" and promised a vigorous defense to Russell-Brown's accusations.

"I am at liberty to say that the allegations of discrimination in this case are unfounded," Jerry wrote. "There are important facts with bearing on this case that will come out when we submit our response."

In her lawsuit, Russell-Brown said she was on her way to achieving tenure until she started criticizing the school for racial discrimination.

She was hired in July 2001 and promoted to associate professor in August 2004. She was nominated for Professor of the Year in 2002 and 2003.

While on an unpaid two-year leave to pursue a doctorate in philosophy at Oxford University, the lawsuit claims, Russell-Brown began sending school officials e-mails about allegations of racial and sexual discrimination against her and others.

Russell-Brown claims school officials continued to discriminate and retaliated against her when she returned to the school in January 2007. She said they left her office in disarray, removed her nameplate and opened her personal mail and e-mails.

Russell-Brown, who is black, also said an unnamed male teacher pushed her in her classroom and that white male students began behaving more aggressively toward her.

Russell-Brown filed a complaint with the school's Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

The school found her claims of retaliation were unsubstantiated, but the EEOC found reasonable cause that discrimination may have occurred.

Russell-Brown said Jerry placed her on "leave without pay" after she filed the EEOC complaint. She was scheduled to teach two classes in 2008 but was told she would remain on unpaid leave, her lawsuit states. She resigned effective Dec. 31, 2007.

Russell-Brown is seeking reinstatement, back wages and unspecified monetary damages.

Her attorney, Kenneth Thompson, could not be reached for comment.

Debra Amirin, a law school spokeswoman, said minorities account for about 25 percent of UF's students and 19 percent of its tenured faculty.

"We're proud of what we've done in diversity," she said.

Reporter Tom Brennan can be reached at (813) 259-7698 or tbrennan@tampatrib.com.

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