​A former University of Michigan football staffer has filed a lawsuit against the university, claiming that it withheld records connected to the more than $11 million inquiry into the football program and its athletic department. Paige Shiver brought the suit in Washtenaw County Circuit Court on Wednesday, alleging that UM unlawfully denied six public records requests related to the probe of former football coach Sherrone Moore, who the university found had an inappropriate relationship with Shiver.
UM terminated Moore in December over his relationship with Shiver. The fallout included Moore storming into Shiver’s home, making threats to both of them and himself with kitchen knives, which culminated in Moore receiving an 18-month probation sentence in April after pleading no contest to trespassing and the malicious use of a telecommunications device. In her lawsuit, Shiver says she sought information about Moore’s inappropriate relationship with her and other potential harassment at Michigan.
In screenshots from Shiver’s appearance on ABC’s Good Morning America, she appears with former Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore. The suit claims that Shiver, during her tenure at the university, faced discrimination and a hostile work environment based on her sex, in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act. It also alleges that unnamed university employees violated Shiver’s privacy rights and HIPAA by unlawfully accessing her medical records.
The university did not comment publicly on the suit, according to a spokesperson. In February, Shiver’s attorney submitted a public records request seeking the entire investigatory file into Moore’s firing, including any communications or tips about Shiver and Moore’s relationship. UM denied the request, arguing that disclosure would interfere with an ongoing investigation. In March, the attorney requested all emails received via an email tip line established by Jenner & Block, the law firm conducting the culture review of UM’s athletic department. This inquiry began with rumors about Moore’s conduct and later expanded to address concerns across the entire department. UM denied this request as well, stating that no such records existed.
Additional records requests were denied, including transcripts, notes, and recordings of Shiver’s December interview with Jenner & Block; emails between Moore and Athletic Director Warde Manuel containing terms such as “affair,” “discipline,” “pregnancy,” “baby,” and “abortion”; and a second request for Moore’s investigatory file. The lawsuit seeks access to these and other records, arguing that the university’s refusals violated public records laws and Shiver’s rights.