Steve Sarkisian's lawsuit vs. USC is going to arbitration
The wrongful termination lawsuit Steve Sarkisian filed against USC is heading to arbitration.
Sarkisian agreed to arbitration Wednesday afternoon. A hearing was set for Thursday regarding USC's desire for the case to go to arbitration.
“Mr. Sarkisian has always been and remains confident that he will prevail regardless of who the decision maker is,” the coach’s Dallas-based attorney, Alan Loewinsohn, wrote in an email to The Times.
“He filed the lawsuit because he had a right to sue in court and believes in transparency. However, USC made clear that even if we won the arbitration issue, they would exercise their right to appeal which could delay the case a year or more and Mr. Sarkisian made the decision not to wait for a resolution.”
Sarkisian filed a wrongful termination suit against the Trojans after he was removed from his position as coach in October. He was fired just days after he went on a leave of absence for treatement for alcohol issues. USC said in a filing that the discreet nature of arbitration would benefit its former coach in a future job search.
As part of the lawsuit, Sarkisian has asked for the over $12 million remaining on his contract and said USC fired him before he was allowed to get treatment. In its response to the lawsuit after it was filed in December, USC said Sarkisian resisted help from the school.
Sarkisian was replaced by offensive coordinator Clay Helton, who is now the permanent head coach.
For more USC news, visit TrojanSports.com.
- - - - - - -
Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
