Wawasee’s head swim coach filed a civil suit against the school corporation Friday alleging sex discrimination.
The suit filed in Kosciusko County Superior Court, by plaintiff Julie A. Robinson’s counsel Samuel L. Bolinger, against defendant Wawasee Community School Corp. (WCSC) states the cause for sex discrimination is under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Robinson, 45, of North Webster, filed a charge of sex discrimination against WCSC on March 30, 2018. On Nov. 30, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued a Notice of Right to Sue, the complaint for damages in the suit states.
In the complaint, Robinson states that since about 2017, it has been “expressed to plaintiff, in various ways, that she would need to defer any decision making about the swim program or coaching philosophies” to Wawasee’s middle school coaches, both of whom are men.
In January 2017, Robinson received a letter from Wawasee Athletic Director Cory Schutz “that can be categorized as a reprimand” and that accused her of speaking negatively about the middle school coaches. The suit states Robinson has not spoken negatively about the coaches and the accusations were not discussed with her prior to Schutz’s letter being sent.
In February 2018, Robinson was informed that she was being investigated and told not to speak to anyone or she would face suspension. She was not informed as to the subject matter of the investigation, and was denied any opportunity to provide any information until the end of the investigation, the suit states.
On March 23, 2018, Robinson received a memo from Schutz with a list of recommendations that was a result of “communication as positivity.” The recommendations were “vague, unmeasurable and were concerned with approachability, communication and positivity.” The memo ended with a paragraph explaining that Robinson does a very good job with a large number of her swimmers. It also expressed that the goal was to have a successful swim program.
The suit states the swim program has been successful for a number of years under Robinson’s coaching. Robinson contends that Schutz and the two male middle school coaches are paving a way for her termination by creating a false perception of her demeanor and damaging her reputation. The suit contends Robinson is being treated differently than male coaches in the athletic department by being asked to defer to the two male school coaches.
Robinson also contends that any changes made to other athletic programs are done so with consultation from the male coaches, which has been denied to her. She also contends that she is being held to a different standard in regards to approachability and positivity than male coaches.
As a result of the above described conduct of WCSC, Robinson has been subjected to “mental anguish, embarrassment, harassment, anxiety intimidation, coercion and other injuries and damages yet to be determined,” the suit states.
It also says Robinson seeks compensatory damages and reasonable attorney’s fees and all other just and proper relief.
