A former University of Arizona athlete sued teammates and coaches for bullying, battery, and defamation. But the school tells a different tale.

University of Arizona Defamation Case: Athlete Alleges Assault and Slander

As Michael Grabowski tells it, his track-and-field teammates began their harassment campaign at training camp. He says he was the only person denied a bed.

Eventually, Grabowski’s father contacted associate head coach James Li. The older Grabowski supposedly pinpointed two ringleaders, to which Li protested: “You can’t single out the two top runners on the team.” Li, however, promised to keep an eye out and posited that Michael just didn’t “know the [team’s] culture” yet.

But according to the lawsuit, things escalated when coaches allegedly forced a sick Grabowski to compete. Afterward, he met with head coach Harvey who allegedly chastised the athlete before kicking him off the squad in the presence of other coaches. When he pushed for an explanation, Grabowski says Harvey pinned him to a chair, cussed, and called him a liar, which caused Grabowski to faint, prompting medical attention.

In his lawsuit, Grabowski argues Title IX violations, assault, and defamation. He names Harvey, the Arizona Board of Regents, and other students as defendants. As for damages, Grabowski wants $3 million in punitive damages, plus attorney fees.

University of Arizona Defamation Case: The Defense

The university’s story differs from Grabowski’s. For their parts, Harvey and Li contend that Grabowski wasn’t an innocent target, arguing that the runner joked inappropriately about rape and flung racist comments around. Grabowski denies the allegations.

The university concedes that it knew about a track team conflict, but the school says there’s “a distinct disparity between the allegations in the lawsuit and the concerns raised last fall.”

In a statement, UA asserts its belief that the coaches and staff “acted appropriately” and the school plans to “strongly contest any lawsuits based on unsubstantiated allegations.”

Other Athletes also came forward on behalf of the coach and school. A letter published in the student newspaper, the Daily Wildcat, praised Harvey for his “temper, rational and moral actions” and spoke of the “positive impact” he’s had on other students’ lives.

Proving Defamation in Arizona

Proving defamation in Arizona — and the rest of the United States for that matter — isn’t easy. We have the most defendant-friendly slander and libel laws in the English-speaking world.

To win, claimants must prove:

• That the defendant publicly made a false statement of fact;
• Which caused material harm; and
• Either knew the account was a lie or didn’t verify.

It will be interesting to see how this University of Arizona defamation lawsuit unfolds. In the meantime, click here to read about more Arizona defamation cases.