Pasadena City College is
on the defensive for another lawsuit filed
by a fired football coach.
James Kuk, who
was fired as the Pasadena City College football coach two days
before the start of fall
practice last year, has
filed a lawsuit in LA.
Superior Court seeking payment of back
wages.
The first hearing in
the case is scheduled
on Tuesday. It
involves pretrial issues.
Kuk is the second consecutive PCC football coach to file a lawsuit against the
school and its board of trustees. Kenny
Lawler was dismissed in 2008 and filed a
lawsuit. Kuk, who was the team's defensive
coordinator at the time, replaced Lawler.
COACH SUES A6
KUK
COACH SUES
From A1
Kuk's suit seeks $248,000
in payment of back wages. It
also alleges an oral breach of
a contract, deceit and fraud.
The suit was filed in January.
Kuk deferred all comment
to his attorneys. A PCC official
would not comment on the
lawsuit.
"He just wants his wages,"
said John Nam, a lawyer for
Anderson & Associates, which
is representing Kuk. "Given
the information our client has
provided, we think we have a
solid case."
When Kuk replaced Lawler
it was as an interim head
coach. He received adjunct
faculty pay and a stipend that
was put in place to help cover
his coaching salary. He did
not receive the stipend for the
spring and summer 2010
semesters, although he
remained as the head coach.
"I had been reassured that
a full-time contract was in the
works," he said last year,
shortly after being fired.
Kuk told this newspaper
last year that on Aug. 10,2010,
two days before the start of
the football season, he was to •
meet with then-athletic direc- \
tor Beverly Tate and new pres- -
ident Mark Rocha to sign a
two-year contract as the Lancers' head coach.
Instead, Kuk said he was
told he would have to resign
or be fired.
Kuk met with Rocha a few
days later and they agreed
that Kuk would resign with a
$10,000 buyout, no disparity
contract and a glowing
review. But less than 48 hours
later, the offer was rescinded.
Kuk began working as a voluntary assistant coach at Riv- ^
erside City College last season, a position he still holds.
Dennis Gossard took over
as the Lancers' head coach,
saying it would be for one
season only. He had previously been the head coach
two other times. The Lancers
went 4-6, winning their first
four games, but losing all five
National Southern Confer- ^
ence games. «.
Gossard set a school record
for career victories. He has a «
49-42-1 record at PCC. /
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626-962-8811 ext 2242
