BATON ROUGE, La. — Pokey Chatman was given two hours to resign or be fired, according to her attorney, who claims the former Louisiana State University women’s basketball coach is entitled to compensation for the final two years of her contract and damages.
“I don’t believe her consent to the resignation was fairly obtained or freely given,” attorney Mary Olive Pierson said.
Pierson valued the remainder of Chatman’s contract at $850,000 to $900,000 but did not specify damages she is seeking from LSU. However, she said in a letter to LSU’s general counsel that if an amicable resolution cannot be reached, Chatman will sue the university.
Chatman left LSU on March 7, after assistant coach Carla Berry raised allegations of improper conduct with a former player or players.
LSU has confirmed Berry reported multiple allegations against Chatman. Berry has since announced she is leaving LSU.
But LSU system General Counsel Raymond Lamonica said he did not know the names of the people Berry was referring to, accepted Berry’s right to not identify them and made no effort to determine who they were, Pierson wrote in the letter to Lamonica dated April 13 and made available to The Associated Press on Tuesday.
“You admitted to me you had not even spoken to anyone who was allegedly involved in those stories and you were not aware of anyone who had made a complaint to the university,” Pierson wrote.
Lamonica also made no attempt to question Chatman about the charges, Pierson said.
The letter outlined Pierson’s contention that Chatman resigned under duress and through misrepresentation of university policy.
Chatman had two attorneys, Pierson and Nathan Fisher, both of Baton Rouge, when she resigned, Lamonica said.
“They did represent her and we believe the resignation is fully effective,” he said.
Regarding claims for compensation, Lamonica said, “Ms. Pierson has made certain demands on the university.” He would not comment further.
The resignation letter was signed by Chatman and LSU athletic director Skip Bertman.
Chancellor Sean O’Keefe said LSU’s inquiry ended when Chatman resigned.
Chatman had two years left on her contract. University officials chose not to impose a $400,000 early-departure penalty, which they said was meant to discourage her from leaving for another job. LSU agreed to pay Chatman according to her current $400,000 per year contract — including bonuses of as much as $70,000 should LSU advance to the Final Four _ until her resignation becomes official April 30.
Although Lamonica said LSU had an “absolute zero tolerance policy” forbidding relationships between coaches and athletes, no policy existed, Pierson said. LSU previously has confirmed the university does not have such a policy.
“I believe that Coach Chatman’s consent to the resignation can be vitiated because of the duress and the material misrepresentation about the existence of a policy at Louisiana State University,” Pierson wrote. “If we are successful in rescinding the resignation, it is our position that the termination is without cause under the terms of the contract. Therefore, LSU owes Coach Chatman the remainder of the compensation due to her pursuant to the contract for the next two years.”
The LSU women’s basketball team played in the NCAA Tournament under interim head coach Bob Starkey, losing in the Final Four to Rutgers University.
LSU has since hired Van Chancellor, 63, as Chatman’s successor.
No body ever asked me for permission to fire my ass!!