US: Former Michigan lawyer fired for harassing gay student sues state for ‘wrongful termination’
A former Michigan lawyer who lost his job after harrassing a gay student has recently filed a “wrongful termination” suit against the state attorney general, asking for both compensation as well as his old job back.
Associated Press reports that in 2012, Shirvell was sued $4.5 million (£2.8 million) after he harassed Chris Armstrong, a student at the University of Michigan.
Shirvell had launched a website named “Chris Armstrong Watch,” claiming the student used his position of power to promote a “radical homosexual agenda” while hosting gay orgies in his dorm room.
He featured a photo of Mr Armstrong with a swastika over his face, calling him ”Satan’s representative on the student assembly” and a “privileged pervert.”
These allegations came in response to Mr Armstrong’s campaign to curb rising tuition fees and expand gender-neutral housing to trans students at the University, which won him the election.
On thursday, Shirvell filed a federal lawsuit claiming he had been wrongly terminated from his job following the incident.
The defendants of the lawsuit are Mike Cox, the previous attorney general who fired him in 2010, Bill Schuette, who is the current Attorney General, as well as four others.
Shirvell has said he is seeking both monetary compensation as well as a reinstatement at his old job.
