Paige Shiver, the former Michigan football staffer at the center of the Sherrone Moore scandal, is now suing the university. The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in Washtenaw County Circuit Court, accuses the school of violating the Michigan Freedom of Information Act by repeatedly refusing to hand over records tied to Moore’s firing.
Attorney Julie Murphy sent multiple FOIA requests between February and June, according to the complaint. She asked for the investigative file related to Moore’s dismissal. Every request was denied. The university cited the ongoing investigation by Chicago-based law firm Jenner & Block as one reason for holding back the documents.
Shiver’s lawyer, Andrew M. Stroth, argues that the university paid Jenner & Block $12 million to investigate the Moore scandal, plus alleged Title IX and Title VII violations and broader cultural problems inside the athletic department and Schembechler Hall. As of April 30, the school had already dropped more than $11.5 million on the firm’s work. Stroth says the public deserves to see what that money bought.
The relationship that led to Moore’s ouster
Moore was fired for cause in December. The university determined his yearslong inappropriate relationship with Shiver violated both his contract and school policy. That same day, he showed up at her residence. Prosecutors accused him of confronting Shiver, blaming her for his dismissal, and threatening both her and himself with kitchen knives after she ended the relationship and talked to university officials.
He eventually took a plea deal in March. Three charges were dropped. He pleaded no contest to misdemeanor trespassing and malicious use of a telecommunications device. His sentence: 18 months of probation, with an order to stay away from Shiver.
More than just a records fight
The lawsuit also claims Shiver faced sex discrimination and a hostile work environment during her time at Michigan. It alleges university employees improperly accessed her medical records, which would violate HIPAA. Her attorneys say the requested records could prove school and athletic department leaders knew about misconduct before the scandal blew up publicly.
The university isn’t commenting on this latest legal fight. A spokesperson said Jenner & Block’s investigation is still ongoing, so there’s nothing to add. That investigation has reportedly stretched for months, with no end publicly in sight.
Meanwhile, Shiver’s legal team keeps pushing. They want the documents released and punitive damages on top of it. The court will have to decide whether the university’s stonewalling is legal or if the public gets to see what really happened.
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