JSU to appeal judgment in ex-coach's suit, despite spending $200K-plus in attorney fees

JACKSON, Mississippi -- Jackson State University is planning to appeal a federal judge's order awarding $382,000 in damages to the school's former women’s basketball coach in 2014, despite the school already spending more than $200,000 in attorney fees.

Last month, U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate refused to throw out or reduce the award made in 2014 to former coach, Denise Taylor Travis, who went by the last name Taylor during her time at JSU.

"To have closure is very gratifying to me and my family,” Travis said after Wingate's ruling. "I want to return to coaching."

Last week, JSU attorney Latoya Merritt filed a notice of appeal to the 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals.

"JSU filed a notice of appeal on Dec. 27, 2017, indicating that it intends to challenge the totality of the judgment in the Fifth Circuit," Merritt said in the motion. "JSU now requests a stay on the execution of the judgment during the pendency of the appeal without having to post a supersedeas bond."

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