FAYETTEVILLE -- A lawsuit filed by former Fayetteville Public Schools Superintendent Matthew Wendt, claiming that the woman who accused him of sexual harassment is responsible for the School Board firing him, has been amended to add a defamation claim.
Wendt filed the lawsuit in early August against Shae Lynn Newman in Washington County Circuit Court.
The defamation claim contends that Newman, through her attorney, published on two occasions information accusing Wendt of sexual harassment that she knew was false.
The lawsuit seeks financial damages from Newman, claiming that she intentionally and improperly interfered with the business expectancy between Wendt and his employer and that her actions led to his termination.
In addition, Wendt's lawsuit contends that he can no longer get a job as a school administrator.
The amended complaint filed Oct. 26 contends that the Fayetteville School District, after firing Wendt, has now denied that Newman was sexually harassed and has challenged the truthfulness of her claims in its response to Newman's Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint.
Newman's attorney has filed a motion to dismiss Wendt's lawsuit. Circuit Judge John Threet set a hearing on that motion for Monday.
Metro on 11/04/2018