LSU Athletics Administrator Sharon Lewis intends to file a lawsuit alleging she suffered harassment and career repercussions as a result of investigating reports of sexual misconduct by former football coach Les Miles.
Lewis’s attorney Bridgett Brown claims there was a broad conspiracy to cover up Miles’ sexual harassment towards student female workers and her client was humiliated and ostracized by colleagues because she tried to stop it.
“Can you imagine what it is like to go to work and all of your coworkers turn their back on you? Not invite you to meetings? Treating you like you have some kind of disease? It will give you a nervous breakdown, which is what she had,” said Brown.
A number of LSU officials including board members, administrators, and school leaders were named in the 50 million dollar RICO civil suit. The suit also names law firm Taylor Porter, alleging the firm helped hide documents related to Miles’ alleged harassment required for Title Nine compliance.
Attorney Tammye Brown was asked why Lewis didn’t go public with the misconduct claims against Miles. Brown said Lewis was ordered to report all allegations to Miriam Segar and say nothing else.
“Sharon Lewis had been specifically instructed that you do not investigate, you don’t ask any questions, you turn it over to us and we investigate. Sharon Lewis was not an investigator,” said Brown.
Lewis is the Associate Athletics Director for Football Recruiting and has worked at LSU for 20 years.
Bridgette Brown said Lewis has suffered continued harassment since 2013. She was asked why Lewis waited so long to file the suit.
“Really until the Husch Blackwell report came out no one believed her. She kept reporting it but no one believed her. Now everyone knows that she was telling the truth,” said Brown.
An LSU spokesperson said the school has no comment on the lawsuit at this time. Taylor Porter has been contacted for a statement as well. Miles denied allegations that he engaged in sexual misconduct during his time at LSU.
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