Former UMD coaches' human rights and whistleblower claims ejected from court

The Minnesota Court of Appeals dismissed Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA) and Minnesota Whistleblower Act (MWA) claims against the University of Minnesota because they were untimely and the MHRA's exclusivity provision applies both to procedures and remedies—meaning once the MHRA claim was dismissed, the identical MWA claim could not proceed.

Background

Shannon Miller, Annette Wiles, and Jen Branford held various athletic coaching positions at the University of Minnesota-Duluth campus. In December 2014, the university notified Miller it would not renew her contract. In June 2015, Wiles and Branford resigned from their respective positions.

The three former coaches filed separate charges against the university with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which investigated in conjunction with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR). In their charges, the coaches alleged the university subjected them to discrimination based on their gender and sexual orientation. They all received "right-to-sue" letters from the EEOC, a necessary prerequisite to initiating litigation in court.

In September 2015, the three coaches filed a joint complaint in federal district court in Minnesota claiming they had been subject to discrimination, a hostile work environment, and reprisal in violation of the MHRA. They also alleged violations of the MWA and the Minnesota Equal Pay for Equal Work Act as well as violations of federal law under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Equal Pay Act (EPA), and federal education law.