Nicole Nickens vs. The Board of Governors of the University of Central Missouri

Case Background

On July 21, 2019, Plaintiff  Nicole Nickens filed a Retaliation lawsuit in the Cass County Circuit Court, Missouri (Case number: 19JO-CC00111-01). Stacey Let presided over this case.

Cause

The University of Central Missouri (UCM) faced a lawsuit by Nicole Nickens, a former associate dean in the College of Education. Nickens claimed she suffered retaliation, sex discrimination, and a hostile work environment. She alleged that UCM College of Education Dean Robert E. Lee retaliated against her after she complained. Specifically, she accused Lee of passing her over for chair positions, assigning her to an inferior office, excluding her from faculty transitions, and publicly undermining her. During the trial, several female UCM employees testified in support of Nickens, and the university’s interim associate vice provost reportedly admitted that sex discrimination was an issue at UCM.

Injuries

Nickens experienced significant professional setbacks due to the retaliation she alleged. Her once-promising career was dramatically stunted by Dean Lee’s actions. She was excluded from statewide and national education initiatives, which further harmed her reputation and professional standing in the field of education. The retaliation created a toxic work environment for Nickens, affecting her well-being and career prospects, leading to irreparable damage.

Damages

Before the trial, Nicole Nickens sought damages in a Retaliation lawsuit totaling $840,564 for the harm caused by the retaliation, sex discrimination, and hostile work environment she experienced at the University of Central Missouri. This amount aimed to compensate for the professional setbacks, emotional distress, and reputational damage she suffered due to Dean Robert E. Lee’s actions.

Key Arguments and Proceedings

Legal representation

  • Plaintiff(s): Nicole Nickens
    • Counsel for Plaintiff: Julianne Germinder |  Brooke Davids | Roger Brown
  • Defendant(s): The Board of Governors of the University of Central Missouri (UCM)
    • Counsel for Defendants: Kyle Russell | AJ James

Claims

Nicole Nickens filed claims of retaliation, sex discrimination, and a hostile work environment against the University of Central Missouri. Nickens argued that Dean Robert E. Lee retaliated against her after she raised concerns about her treatment. She was passed over for chair positions and given an inferior office. Nickens claimed that these retaliatory actions stunted her career. Additionally, she was excluded from key faculty transitions and her authority was undermined.

Defense

The defense argued that the University of Central Missouri had not engaged in retaliation, sex discrimination, or created a hostile work environment for Nicole Nickens. They contended that the actions taken by Dean Robert E. Lee were not retaliatory in nature and were based on legitimate, non-discriminatory reasons related to Nickens’ performance and job responsibilities. The defense also maintained that any professional setbacks Nickens experienced were unrelated to her complaints and were not the result of retaliation, sex discrimination, or a hostile work environment.

Jury Verdict

On October 25, 2024, the jury sided with Nickens on her retaliation claim. They awarded her a total of $1.12 million in damages. This amount included $1 million in punitive damages. The jury aimed the punitive damages at holding UCM accountable for its actions. Additionally, they also included $120,000 for noneconomic damages. The damages compensated Nickens for the emotional distress and professional harm she suffered.

Court Documents:

Available Upon Request