University of New Mexico Anderson School of Management Associate Professor Nick Flor filed a lawsuit against the school on Dec. 31, 2019 in an attempt to secure his job back after he violated the university’s sexual harassment and Title IX policies.
Flor filed lawsuits against UNM, its Board of Regents and additional university officials for allegedly violating his due-process rights during an investigation on him. According to the Albuquerque Journal, Flor stated that he did not violate any of the school’s policies, while his attorney commented on how he was denied the chance of properly defending himself during trial.
“It is just unfathomable to me that a tenured professor could have this type of suspension – it’s essentially a termination – and have no hearing at all,” Flor’s attorney Nicolas Hart told the publication.
Flor is currently suspended for the rest of 2020 after he entered into a relationship with a UNM graduate student. He is also unable to find other work lasting longer than 39 days during his unpaid suspension.
While Flor admitted he engaged in “flirtatious and explicit in nature” emails with the graduate student, he had only one short “in-person” interaction in May 2018. He also stated the student threatened to expose their emails to university officials once he severed all ties with her.
Flor is still attempting to appeal his suspension following multiple prior attempts, and he is also looking to file a temporary restraining order that prevents the suspension from taking full effect before a verdict is officially reached.
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