Claim of Former Athletic Director Survives Motion to Dismiss

A federal judge from the Southern District of Mississippi has delivered a mixed ruling for the president of the University of Southern Mississippi (USM), who was sued, along with the school and interim athletic director, by the former senior associate athletics director for internal affairs.   In the wake of her firing, plaintiff Diane Stark filed suit in November of 2012 against USM, Interim AD Jeff Hammond, and School President Dr. Martha Saunders in the Circuit Court of Forrest County, M