According to Sarah Prescott of the Law Offices of Deborah L. Gordon, the motion For More Definite Statement filed by Tom Monaghan's lawyers on November 26 was denied yesterday in Washtenaw County Circuit Court. The motion was in response to the whistleblower suit filed by three terminated Ave Maria School of Law professors. (background; series) In opposition to the motion, "the judge stated that the complaint [filed by the professors] met Michigan's standard for pleading, which is simply to place the defendant on notice of the nature of the claim asserted". According to Prescott, "They will need to file an answer to the complaint now that this is resolved."

Monaghan and the Ave Maria Foundation have 21 days to produce discovery responses. Although no date is scheduled for depositions, late January is the anticipated time frame.

Commentary - Fumare

Tom Monaghan did not have a good week in court. On Friday, the Michigan Supreme Court denied a request by Monaghan in another whistleblower wrongful-termination suit. That suit was filed over three years ago by the former director of federal financial aid at Ave Maria College. Her suit, and the suits of the three law school professors, will now move forward in court as Monaghan and top Ave Maria administrators prepare to be deposed.

Tags: lawsuit