OSU paid almost $1.6M to fight band-director lawsuit

Associated Press

Ohio State University’s legal bills for defending the firing of its former marching band director after accusations he allowed a “sexualized culture” in the band totaled almost $1.6 million.

Financial documents recently released by Ohio State show its legal costs to fight former band director Jonathan Waters’ lawsuits over his firing totaled more than $1.4 million for his suit in federal court. The costs tied to a separate lawsuit in state court were more than $174,000.

The university fired Waters in July 2014 after an internal investigation determined he ignored the band’s culture of raunchy, profane and suggestive traditions and mishandled sexual discrimination allegations. Waters denied that finding and said he was working to improve the culture. He lost both lawsuits.

His suit in U.S. District Court in Columbus alleged he was a victim of gender discrimination and the university disciplined him differently than a female employee facing similar allegations.