Steve Sarkisian has filed a lawsuit against USC over the way he was fired, according to a report.
Sarkisian, who was fired on Oct. 12 amid questions about his sobriety, was expected to spend 30 days in an alcohol treatment facility around the time the USC football team let him go. Sarkisian’s attorney, Alan Loewinsohn, told TMZ that USC broke the law by firing a person over a disability.
“Alcoholism is a recognized disability under California law,” Loewinsohn said. “So firing somebody because of that disability is against the law.”
Loewinsohn said Sarkisian is suing for breach of contract, breach of implied covenant of good faith, failure to accommodate, discrimination on the basis of disability, retaliation, violation of confidentiality of medical info and more. He also said Sarkisian feels USC “kicked him to the curb” when he was in need of support.
Sarkisian is seeking more than $30 million, according to the lawsuit. He wants to be paid the remainder of his contract — $12.6 million — plus additional compensation for the “mental anguish” he suffered as a result of being terminated. Sark claims he pleaded with USC AD Pat Haden for time off to get help but was instead fired less than 24 hours later.
When USC fired Sarkisian, it was reported that the school believed he was being fired with cause and would not be owed the remaining three-plus years of his deal.
Things went south for Sarkisian in a hurry at USC after he showed up to a team meeting and was reportedly not sober. That incident sparked an avalanche of disturbing stories about Sark’s alleged drinking problems.
