A federal court has allowed a free speech lawsuit against two Michigan State University (MSU) trustees to proceed, stemming from allegations that they orchestrated a campaign to label a professor as racist for describing a disruptive public meeting crowd as a “mob.”
Professor Jack Lipton, represented by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), claims Trustees Rema Vassar and Dennis Denno met with students, encouraging them to file complaints against him and to publicly condemn him as racist in statements, op-eds, and social media.
READ: 20 Minutes To Justice: Jury Convicts Michigan Man In Deadly Stabbing Spree
These alleged actions followed an October 2023 Board of Trustees meeting where Lipton read a resolution calling for then-Chair Vassar’s resignation amidst ethics violation accusations, leading to a chaotic scene Lipton later described as a “mob” in an interview.
Robert Shibley, special counsel for campus advocacy at FIRE, stated that Lipton alleges Vassar and Denno “used their government positions to retaliate against him after he criticized Vassar for allowing what he called ‘the mob’ to disrupt a meeting.” Shibley emphasized the judge’s observation that the trustees “crafted the language that others would use to attack Lipton” and “pushed students to file complaints” over protected speech.
Professor Lipton expressed his motivation for the lawsuit, stating, “I’m suing because the MSU Board of Trustees – particularly Trustees Denno and Vassar – tried to destroy my reputation – for telling the truth.”
He asserted the alleged actions were “an attack on my integrity, my career, and my safety,” intended to “silence and intimidate me, and to show others what would happen if anyone would dare attempt to hold them accountable.”
READ: Michigan Voters Take First Step To Overturn Wage Cut for Tipped Workers
Liz Abdnour, one of Lipton’s attorneys, shared that they are “thrilled that the Court clearly understood the seriousness of the retaliation he experienced.”
She highlighted that the court is allowing Lipton to proceed with claims against Trustee Vassar in both her official and personal capacities, enabling him to seek injunctive relief to prevent future retaliation.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
