Dixon v. Texas Southern University

Team: Soo Mee Yoon and Zoe Krohn

Names of Litigants:

Plaintiff: Surina Dixon
Defendant: Texas Southern University

Date Lawsuit was filed: September 15, 2011

Court in which lawsuit was filed: The United States District Court for the Southern
District of Texas Houston Division

Present status of case: Closed

A concise statement of the issue or issues in dispute: Surina Dixon was hired as
the head women’s basketball coach at the Texas Southern University. She sued
the Texas Southern University on the basis of civil rights violations under Title IX
and Title VII claiming gender discrimination and retaliation. She was hired by TSU
and then fired within three months by athletic director Charles McClelland after
questioning the terms of the contract, including the years and the salary. Dixon
was offered a one-year contract at $75,000, while the new men’s basketball coach
Tony Harvey received a five-year contract at $150,000 per year. Dixon specifically
noted that a Tony Harvey had received a longer contract and higher salary around
the same time of her employment, even though she had previous head coaching
experience and he had none.

What the plaintiff is asking the court for: Equitable relief for holding a similar
position as her male counterpart, back pay and front pay, compensatory damages,
attorneys’ fees, expert witness fees, taxable court costs, pre-judgment and post-
judgment interest.