The lawsuit will move the conflict between Waters and Ohio State to a federal courtroom after months of public sparring, often played out in media releases from both sides. But now Waters will add a notable name to his legal team with the addition of Jim Petro, a former Ohio attorney general who was the chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents until he retired last year.
All along, Waters has said he didn’t want to sue the university. But after requests to review the firing with Ohio State failed, Waters said yesterday he was making a stand.
“We are here today to restore the reputation of the Ohio State University marching band,” Waters said at a news conference at his lawyer’s office. “I think I am in a unique position to do that.”
The 45-page lawsuit includes a legal claim that OSU President Dr. Michael V. Drake and Provost Joseph E. Steinmetz illegally fired Waters. It says they deprived Waters of his constitutional right to a fair investigation. A second legal claim alleges that Ohio State mistreated Waters because of his gender. His lawyers said the firing violated federal Title IX rules banning gender discrimination.
I cannot think of an appropriate "word" to describe Jonathan Waters. I did not know you had "recourse" when you were fired. Everyone I know, when they got fired, they went out and looked for another job .... NOT old Jonathan, he is going to sue in an attempt to get his job back, and, well, ah, a million bucks. When did it start that you could not fire someone who worked for you. I don't think his job was a union one. Words like ..... whiny, crybaby, sore loser, pampered, come to mind when I think of him. OJ, the footless runner, some lawsuits are screwey and go the wrong way ... suppose, after a lengthy, COSTLY trial, a jackass decision is made that compels OSU to take him back. What a serene working condition that would create. I, personally, don't care WHY he was fired, HE WAS FIRED .... I think OSU can now say that they don't want a whiny, wimpy crybaby to lead their band. "Oh, here's your million dollars and welcome back, the baton is back in your hands. Anything you need, just let us know." Yea, right. He has to try to stay at OSU, no one else would hire someone like him .... ah, he could go in to politics, I think he has all the qualifications .................
