The Monroe County School System and former Sequoyah High football coach Ronnie Summey are waiting to see if Chancellor Jeri Bryant will dismiss Summey's wrongful termination suit against the school system or if the attorneys for both sides will get to present oral arguments for the chancellor later this spring.

School system attorney Arthur Knight of Knoxville and Summey attorney Kevin Shepherd of Maryville said they met with the chancellor Wednesday.

The attorneys for the opposing sides give differing opinions about which side is responsible for the chancellor not making a decision on the school system's motion to dismiss Summey's case, however both insist they are ready to make their case before her if it comes to that in April.
"We want her to hear all the evidence," Shepherd said.

The chancellor could dismiss all or part of the case or decide to let both sides argue their points before her in April.
Knight said he will not be filing a lot of motions in the future and is confident of victory should the chancellor decide to hear the case and not dismiss it.
"There is no lawsuit here," Knight said.

In March 2007, Summey was hired as a non-tenured, part-time employee for the school system and as head coach of the Sequoyah High football team.
In court papers, the school system outlines numerous alleged clashes between Summey and Sequoyah Principal Maurice Moser throughout the coach's stay at the school over student attire and other discipline issues.

Summey had clashes with his own coaching staff and players, which ultimately led to Summey's dismissal as Sequoyah's coach in May 2008, according to the defendants.
Summey later filed a wrongful termination suit against the Monroe County Board of Education, Director of Schools Mike Lowry and Moser, saying he was denied due process to appeal the decision.

The school system states though Summey was dismissed as Sequoyah's football coach, he was not fired as a part-time teacher but reassigned to Vonore Middle School and never reported for duty.
The plaintiff voluntarily dismissed one board member, Sonya Lynn, from the suit.
Summey's attorney said Lynn has signed an affidavit supporting Summey's claims against the school system.

In November, Knight filed a motion in Monroe County Chancery Court seeking summary judgment for dismissal of Summey's $2 million wrongful termination lawsuit against the school system.
Knight said the defendants are entitled to summary judgment because the director of school's decision to reassign Summey to Vonore Middle was valid under the plain and unambiguous terms of the plaintiff's contract with the school system.

tommy.millsaps@advocateanddemocrat.com | 337-7101