Former University of Southern California football coach Steve Sarkisian sued the school on Monday for wrongful termination.
The lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court. It allegedly states that USC breached Sarkisian’s contract, discriminated against him on the basis of disability and invaded his privacy, according to the Los Angeles Times. Sarkisian says that USC fired him instead of letting him get treatment for alcoholism. He said that the stress of his job and his wife filing for divorce furthered his need for alcohol. The lawsuit says that he completed inpatient treatment and a detoxification during rehabilitation. Sarkisian say that he is owed at least $12.6 million from his contract with the school in addition to other damages. TMZ reports that Sarkisian is looking for more than $30 million.
“Instead of accommodating Steve Sarkisian’s disability, USC kicked him to the curb,” the lawsuit says.
The lawsuit goes on to say, ''Steve Sarkisian was ready to return to work, both physically and emotionally and in time to coach USC's two remaining games of the regular season and any games beyond that. Unfortunately, there was no job waiting for him. Steve Sarkisian took responsibility for getting help for his disability. USC refuses to honor its responsibilities.''
Sarkisian was an assistant coach at USC under Pete Carroll and returned to the school in December 2013 after five years at Washington. He was fired in October and Clay Helton was named the interim coach. Last week Helton was names as USC’s permanent coach. USC was 5-3 under Helton and won the Pac-12 South Conference, according to the Associated Press.
USC will play Wisconsin in the Holiday Bowl on December 30.
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