Former Tarrant County College chancellor Eugene Giovannini is firing back at his old employer, filing a lawsuit that claims trustees had no cause to move toward terminating his contract and asking for more than $1 million in damages. In the suit, he argues the trustees’ decision was actually based on a severely compromised process that relied upon falsehoods. Giovannini also denies having had a relationship with any employee and notes he resigned in 2022 after the board voted to begin termination proceedings.
According to the Fort Worth Report, the complaint accuses the district of breaching his employment agreement and asks a court for more than $1,000,000 in monetary relief. The outlet reports that Giovannini claims the college did not have cause to fire him and that the termination process was tainted by false information. The Fort Worth Report also notes Giovannini and his attorneys did not respond to requests for comment.
What the lawsuit alleges
The filing focuses on breach-of-contract and wrongful-termination claims, saying trustees failed to follow required procedures and relied on inaccurate allegations. Trustees voted in March 2022 to begin the formal process to terminate Giovannini after an investigation, and the college announced his resignation that June, along with the appointment of Elva LeBlanc as interim chancellor, per Tarrant County College.
Background: Bennett case and related litigation
The suit lands while earlier litigation involving former TCC fundraising chief Kristen Bennett is still in play. Bennett sued the district in 2022, alleging contract violations, First Amendment and due-process claims, and gender-based discrimination. Court records show a judge dismissed some of Bennett’s claims while allowing others to proceed, and reporting has tracked subsequent legal developments in that case. See Justia court records and coverage from Bloomberg Law for more details.
What happens next
Giovannini is asking a court to enforce his contract and award damages in excess of $1,000,000, according to Fort Worth Report. Tarrant County College has not issued a public response to the new filing, and the complaint could prompt motions, written responses, and a schedule of hearings as the case moves through civil court.
