Ex-Washington State coach Nick Rolovich to sue over firing

ESPN ^ | 10/20/2021 | Adam Rittenberg

[God luvs America]

Washington State fired Rolovich and four other assistant coaches Monday night after they refused to comply with a mandate that required all state employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Gov. Jay Inslee had set a deadline of Monday for employees to be vaccinated or to receive an exemption and accommodations from their direct supervisors. WSU athletic director Chun on Monday said Rolovich's firing is a for-cause separation, noting that he could not meet the requirements in his contract, which paid him $3 million annually. Therefore, Rolovich will not continue to be paid by the school.

Brian Fahling, an attorney in Kenmore, Washington, who is representing Rolovich, confirmed in a statement to ESPN that Rolovich's request for a religious exemption based on his "devout" Catholic faith was denied by the university. Chun and WSU president Kirk Schulz on Monday would not confirm whether the exemption requests from Rolovich and the other coaches had been denied, saying only that Rolovich's request for accommodations could not be met. The university used a blind evaluation process for all exemption requests, where a two-person panel does not know each applicant's name or job title before making decisions.

Fahling accuses Chun of determining Rolovich would be fired as far back as April, four months before Inslee's vaccine mandate went into effect.

"Chun's animus towards Coach Rolovich's sincerely held religious beliefs, and Chun's dishonesty at the expense of Coach Rolovich during the past year, is damning and will be thoroughly detailed in litigation," Fahling's statement reads. "Chun's discriminatory and vindictive behavior has caused immeasurable harm to Coach Rolovich and his family."

[Tell It Right]

I wonder if the Washington State Cougars alums who always wave the Cougars flag on ESPN Game Day will wave a Gadsden flag in honor of Coach Rolovich.

[God luvs America]

better yet, replace it with a “Let’s Go Brandon” flag...there have been several Lets Go Brandon signs during the show.

[Tell It Right]

I love it!

I also love the "We Want Bama" sign that had Bama crossed out and replaced with Texas A&M. That kind of stuff is the perfect antidote for rat poison.

[NEMDF]

I bet it doesn’t stipulate in his contract that he is required to take unwanted vaccinations.

[frogjerk]

The university used a blind evaluation process for all exemption requests, where a two-person panel does not know each applicant's name or job title before making decisions.

Again, who is making the determination regarding if the applicant is sincere or not. This is a first amendment issue and infringement of freedom of religion.

Why? Because participating in accepting the vaccine knowing full well it was tested or manufactured using cell lines derived from aborted babies is a mortal sin because you have full knowledge, are willfully choosing the sin and it is a grave matter. In the Catholic faith if you are guilty of a mortal sin the life of grace from God has been cut off and you are in very real danger of going to Hell. This means that the government wants me to risk my immortal soul for their shenannigans.

It also doesn't matter anyone else believes this is true because it is YOUR conscience that is being violated.

[libertymaker]

Chun is a Commie-loving atheist.

[glennaro]

Excellent. A good -- a necessary action that must be taken whenever and wherever this happens. We are literally in a fight to save our beloved Republic.

[shotgun]

He needs to file his lawsuit in Benton County (Kennewick, Pasco, Richland) and try to get Judge Cameron Mitchell assigned to the case.

Cameron was a star wide receiver for the Cougs in the early 80’s and after college went on and got his law degree and has been a Superior Court Judge for the last couple of decades.

I think he is a republican since he’s never even sniffed a federal judge appointment because of our 2 Dem, and dumb, Senators, even though he is black.

[sandztorm]

Good idea...

[cgbg]

Yup—crazy leftist judges could tie themselves into a pretzel arguing his contract is null and void, but any semi-rational judge will uphold the clear wording of the contract.

[saturn]

Good luck, the courts are as corrupt as Biden.

[Irish Eyes]

How is it decided what county to file a lawsuit?

The Rolovich lawyer is from Kenmore which is in King County.

[Nuc 1.1]

I am not going to request an exemption from fools who have no right to force me to inject poison into my body. They can stuff their puffed up egos where the sun doesn’t shine.