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Los Angeles Charger’s principal coach Jim Harbaugh was added Friday to a lawsuit against his former employer, University of Michigan, and a former assistant football coach who was accused of having hacking in computer systems to acquire photos of college athletes.
Attorneys claim that Harbaugh allowed Matt Weiss to continue working as a co-offensive coordinator in a national playoffs after Weiss was watching private information on a computer in December 2022.
“The university’s delay in taking a meaningful protective action until after a game of high efforts sends a clear message: Student Welfare was secondary,” said Parker Stinar, the main lawyer in a trial derived from a criminal investigation of Weiss.
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Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh at a press conference at Bolt. (Kirby Lee/Imag- Pictures)
“Had Harbaugh implemented basic supervision of his staff, the plaintiffs and the class would have been protected from predators like Weiss,” the updated trial states. “Instead, Weiss was a very compensated asset that was promoted by and within the football program, from which he was able to and did, targeted at female students athletes.”
Announcements from Associated Press seeking comment from Harbaugh and Michigan Athletic Director Warde Manuel were not immediately returned Friday.
The lawsuit says an employee saw Weiss see private information in Schembechler Hall, headquarters of the football team, around December 21, 2022, and reported it before Michigan played Texas Christian University in an endgame game days later on December 31.
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Weiss was fired a few weeks later in January 2023 during a study of his computer use.
Earlier this year, after charges were filed, Harbaugh told journalists that he knew nothing about Weiss’ problems until after the playoffs. He said the claims were “shocking.”
“Just shocked, completely shocked. Disturbed,” said Harbaugh In a video Shared by the team. “It was after the TCU game that I found out we found out that there were accusations,” he added. “And you said that. I mean, indictment, it’s not a word that – sympathy for the victims and for Matt’s family. It’s shocking.”
The US Law Office of the Eastern District in Michigan announced the indictment this month, more than two years after Weiss, 42, was fired from his coaching position under Harbaugh after an investigation of the alleged crimes.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh of Michigan Wolverines after the Big Ten championship against Iowa Hawkeyes at Lucas Oil Stadium December 2, 2023 in Indianapolis. (Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
According to the indictment, Weiss got “unauthorized access to databases for student athlete of more than 100 colleges and universities maintained by a third-party provider.” Then he allegedly downloaded personal information and data on more than 150,000 athletes. From there, Weiss was able to access the information from more than 2,000 athletes, including access to their social media, e -mail and cloud storage.
Weiss is accused of using this information to download “Personal, Intimate Digital Photographs and Videos Never Intended to Be Shared Outly Partners,” prosecutors said. The alleged crimes took place from 2015 to January 2023, and it is alleged that he has primarily targeted women.
Weiss, fired in 2023 so as not to cooperate with a school survey, was a non -pleasing plea.
Weiss worked for Harbaugh’s brother, John, on the coaching staff of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens before joining Michigan in 2021.
The lawsuit says Weiss university computer had encryption software that may be disabled by an external supplier as part of the investigation. Authorities revealed in April that thousands of intimate photos and videos were found on his electronic devices and cloud storage accounts.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh, Mike Morris (90), Mike Sainristil (0) and Mazi Smith (58) from Michigan Wolverines are preparing to take the field before a game against Michigan State Spartans at Michigan Stadium 29 October 2022, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images)
NCAA previously handed in a four-year show year order order for Harbaugh after establishing Coach had unacceptable contact with recruits and players during the limited period Covid-19. The organization decided that Harbaugh “dealt with unethical behavior could not promote an atmosphere of compliance and violated main coach liability obligations.”
Before it was Harbaugh and Michigan examined for unacceptable personal scout and Sign-Steam accusations It threw a shadow over Michigan’s race until the 2024 National Championship. The Big Ten conference eventually suspended Harbaugh in three games.
