NDSU appeals Ellis ruling
North Dakota State has filed notice that it is appealing an age discrimination lawsuit to the state Supreme Court, its attorney says.
East Central District Judge Steven Marquart awarded former NDSU sports information director George Ellis nearly $155,000 in pay and benefits in his lawsuit against the university last fall.
The judge also ordered NDSU to pay legal bills for Ellis, who said he was wrongfully fired in 2004, at age 59.
A sports information director is responsible for creating media guides and compiling statistics.
The SID also provides information for media before and after games and acts as a middleman between athletes, coaches and the media
Marquart, in his ruling, said a man 16 years younger replaced Ellis and that NDSU failed to prove it had a legitimate reason.
Assistant Attorney General Tag Anderson, who represents NDSU, said he plans to argue that Marquart’s ruling was “legally and factually incorrect.”
In 1988, Ellis was inducted into the College Sports Information Directors of America Hall of Fame.
He was also a part of 134 national awards given to the NDSU Sports Information Directors during his tenure with the school.
Arguments in the case are expected to be heard early next summer.