University of Michigan Seeks to Dismiss Paige Shiver’s Records Lawsuit

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University of Michigan Lawyers Argue Improper Venue

University of Michigan attorneys filed a response in the legal challenge initiated by Paige Shiver, who sued the institution after her public records requests were denied. According to court filings, the defense contends that the lawsuit belongs in a different jurisdiction, challenging the choice of Washtenaw County Circuit Court as the appropriate legal forum for the dispute.

The underlying dispute stems from a series of public records requests submitted by Shiver’s legal counsel starting in February, seeking files related to an internal investigation into former football coach Sherrone Moore. The university terminated Moore in December following an investigation that found he had engaged in an inappropriate relationship with Shiver, according to records outlined by the Detroit News.

Records Requests Denied During Athletics Investigation

Shiver’s legal team filed multiple Freedom of Information Act and public records requests seeking documents tied to the high-profile inquiry into the athletic department. According to reporting by the Detroit News, the university’s denials covered the complete investigatory file into Moore’s firing, emails sent to a tip line established by the outside law firm Jenner & Block, and transcripts, notes, and recordings of Shiver’s own interview with investigators in December.

Additional denied records included communications between Moore and Athletic Director Warde Manuel containing specific search terms, alongside a secondary request for Moore’s investigatory file. University representatives argued during the initial records process that releasing certain materials would interfere with an ongoing investigation, while asserting that other requested tips and communications simply did not exist within university systems, per the Detroit News. The broader investigation into the university’s athletic department culture ultimately cost upward of $11.5 million, according to the same reports.

Background and Subsequent Legal Proceedings

The university inquiry and subsequent termination preceded an incident in December where Moore allegedly entered Shiver’s home without permission, resulting in his arrest and subsequent criminal charges. According to court records detailed by the Detroit News, Moore entered a no-contest plea to trespassing and the malicious use of a telecommunications device, leading to a sentence of 18 months of probation handed down in March. Shiver’s employment contract with the university expired at the end of February and was not renewed.

In her civil lawsuit filed in Washtenaw County Circuit Court, Shiver alleged wrongful denial of public records, alongside claims of discrimination and a hostile work environment under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. The lawsuit also asserted that unidentified university employees breached her privacy rights and violated the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act by accessing her medical records without authorization, as reported by the Detroit News. University spokesperson Paul Corliss declined to comment on the pending litigation when contacted by reporters.