Mel Tucker is trying to turn a loss for his accuser into a win for his own wallet. The former Michigan State football coach has asked a federal judge to let him rely on a recent Ingham County ruling that tossed a lawsuit filed by sexual-violence advocate Brenda Tracy. His attorneys say that dismissal undercuts key allegations Michigan State used to fire him for cause and strengthens his push for roughly $75-80 million in unpaid salary. It is the latest turn in a years-long legal fight that has kept the Spartans program and university leadership under a harsh spotlight.
According to The Detroit News, Tucker's lawyers asked a federal court this week to treat the Jan. 28 dismissal of Tracy's nine-count complaint as relevant evidence in his wrongful-termination suit against MSU. The state judge dismissed most counts as time-barred or because there were no factual disputes for a jury to decide, according to The State News. Tucker’s new filing says the ruling weakens the university’s justification for firing him and should factor into the federal judge’s decision-making.
Judge Tossed Most Counts; Tracy May Appeal
Ingham County Circuit Judge Wanda Stokes heard arguments on Jan. 28 and granted Tucker’s motion, dismissing the nine-count complaint. Stokes concluded several counts were barred by Michigan’s statute of limitations or presented no factual dispute for a jury to decide. Tracy’s attorney, Karen Truszkowski, said she is considering an appeal, according to WILX.
How the State Ruling Fits the Federal Fight
MSU’s Title IX review earlier concluded Tucker sexually harassed Tracy, finding he masturbated during an April 2022 phone call, a conclusion Tucker has disputed. That finding triggered his suspension and firing for cause in September 2023. Tucker later filed a federal lawsuit claiming the university denied him due process and still owes him the remainder of his contract, according to reporting by AP.
The federal complaint filed by Tucker lists his lawyers and lays out allegations about how MSU handled the investigation; court filings show New York-based attorney Rita Glavin among Tucker’s counsel. Tucker's attorney Andrew Abood has called the Ingham County ruling welcome news for his client, describing it as one of the best developments in years, local coverage shows. The federal case remains active and is still moving through motions and discovery as both sides press their claims and defenses.
Legal Implications
A state dismissal on statute-of-limitations grounds ends those specific civil claims in that court, but it does not automatically settle the separate federal contract and due-process questions at the center of Tucker’s lawsuit. Michigan law gives defamation and related claims a relatively short filing window in many situations, which is one reason judges sometimes dismiss counts even when facts are hotly disputed. That kind of technical outcome can be used by either side to shape credibility arguments, but the federal court will apply its own standards when deciding whether MSU’s actions were lawful. For background on Michigan’s time limits for defamation suits, see Nolo.
What’s Next
Both sides are expected to keep pushing appeals and motions in state and federal court as the dueling cases move forward. The federal docket will determine whether the district judge treats the state-court dismissal as decisive for any of Tucker’s claims or simply folds it into a broader evidentiary fight over how and why Michigan State cut him loose.
