Clemon Johnson sues FAMU, says university owes “unpaid wages”

Back on January 26, Rattler Nation reported via its Twitter feed that sources said former FAMU men’s Head Basketball Coach Clemon J. Johnson might sue the university. On Monday, May 11 Johnson officially filed a lawsuit against FAMU in the Second Judicial Circuit Court of Florida.

Johnson, a FAMU alumnus and former player in the National Basketball Association, signed a four-year contract with the university back in 2011. He earned $150,000 per year.

FAMU President Elmira Mangum sent Johnson a “notice of non-reappointment and employment separation” on April 18, 2014 shortly after the end of his third year in the position. The former head coach’s team was 10-23 in 2011-2012, 8-23 in 2012-2013, and 14-18 in 2013-2014.

Johnson’s lawsuit states that it is “a complaint for breach of contract, breach of good faith and fair dealing, fraud in the inducement and negligent misrepresentation related to FAMU’s improper termination of Mr. Johnson’s employment as FAMU’s head basketball coach and seeking recovery of Mr. Johnson’s unpaid wages and other damages stemming therefrom.”

Tallahassee lawyer Tim Jansen is representing Johnson. Former FAMU Head Football Coach Earl Holmes is another one of Jansen’s clients. Back in January, Holmes filed suit to force the university to pay him for the more than two years that remained on his four-year contract prior to his termination. He is seeking $400,000 and additional damages.

“It’s concerning that FAMU now has a history of entering these contracts with these coaches, promising them these terms and conditions, and then reneging on them and not living by the terms of the contract, misrepresenting the terms of the contract, and taking advantage of them,” Jansen told WCTV-6.

FAMU officials have not released a public response to the lawsuit.

Read Johnson’s lawsuit, contract, and termination letter here.