The attorney representing former University of Washington softball coach Teresa Wilson, who has sued the school for sex discrimination, believes her case has been strengthened after the state concluded an investigation into the drug-dispensing practices of the UW softball team doctor.
Wilson was relieved of her coaching duties and re-assigned last December after she allegedly knew or should have known that the team doctor was prescribing and dispensing drugs to student-athletes in violation of the law.
On September 29, a settlement was reached between the doctor and the state that he would give his license in exchange for not having to make an admission of guilt or wrongdoing.
Wilson’s attorney, Minneapolis-based Rayla Allison, told Sports Litigation Alert that the fact that the state never called on Wilson to testify about the 76-year-old doctor’s practices is good news for her client.
“The state never called Coach Wilson in their investigation regarding Dr. Scheyer, nor did the grand jury in the doctor’s criminal investigation,” Allison said. “This supports Ms. Wilson’s case in that the State of Washington Dept. of Health, nor the grand jury felt she had any role in the doctor’s case.”
In her complaint, Wilson alleges that UW investigators asked “leading and defaming questions of players and personnel interviewed (during the investigation) that implied unsupported wrongdoing by Wilson.”
Allison said last spring that she believes Wilson’s gender has been a factor in her treatment.
“Not only is Coach Wilson’s dismissal unjustifiable and illegal, it is completely inconsistent with any disciplinary actions taken against any male coaches in the athletic department. She did nothing wrong,” said Allison. “Furthermore, no other sports programs at UW were investigated for any questionable practices of medical care provided by Dr. Scheyer, even though he attended other teams over the years, including men’s basketball and football.”
Allison is being assisted by the Minneapolis law firm of Lindquist and Venum.
