Jim Harbaugh Named in Lawsuit Linked to Michigan’s Offensive Coordinator

Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh has been implicated as a defendant in a series of lawsuits against the University of Michigan. This development adds a new layer to an ongoing legal battle involving allegations of privacy violations and misconduct surrounding former offensive coordinator Matt Weiss.

Overview of the Lawsuit

On Friday, an amended class-action complaint was filed, spearheaded by 11 women who allege that Weiss unlawfully accessed their personal accounts and retrieved sensitive photos. Alongside Harbaugh, current Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel is also named in the suit.

Key Allegations:

• Hacking Incidents: The lawsuit claims that Weiss hacked into female students’ accounts between December 21-23, 2022. This breach reportedly resulted in the download of intimate photos and videos that were not intended for public view.

• Inaction from Leadership: It is asserted that Harbaugh and Manuel did not take necessary measures to protect the students, allegedly prioritizing athletic success and profits over safety and dignity. As stated by attorney Parker Stinar:

  “Naming Head Coach Jim Harbaugh and Athletic Director Warde Manuel in this complaint reflects our belief that leadership at the highest levels either knew of these threats or deliberately ignored them.”

Previous Legal Actions

The current lawsuit is one among at least 13 civil cases that have surfaced against Weiss, represented by lawyers seeking justice for over 80 female athletes across the nation. Weiss had previously been federally indicted for allegedly obtaining unauthorized access to a substantial database of college athletes from more than 100 universities.

Details of the Indictment:

• Weiss is accused of downloading personal information on over 150,000 individuals.
• He reportedly accessed social media, email, and cloud storage of at least 3,000 athletes, leading to unauthorized downloads of private and intimate digital materials.

Michigan’s Response

The lawsuit further claims that Michigan officials allowed Weiss to coach in the 2022 Fiesta Bowl, despite being aware of the ongoing hacking allegations. This action has been characterized as placing "profits before people", particularly affecting women’s and female student-athlete safety.

Legal Representation and Statements

The legal representatives for the plaintiffs emphasize the university’s failure to respond adequately to the threats against its students. They assert that the leadership’s inaction contributed to a culture of neglect regarding student safety.

Conclusion

The emerging details surrounding this lawsuit reflect broader issues of accountability and safety in collegiate athletics. As investigations continue, it remains imperative for educational institutions to prioritize the well-being of their students above all else.

For more information on privacy rights and protections, consult resources from the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

Related Topics

Hacking in Colleges | Student Privacy | Sexual Harassment in Sports | University Accountability