Page:Taylor-Travis v. Jackson State University (17-60856) (2021) Opinion.pdf/6

 Jackson State argues that the undisputed evidence establishes that Taylor engaged in conduct that gave Jackson State cause to fire her, including misappropriating funds in violation of the school’s travel and reimbursement policies and mistreating student–athletes. We disagree.

The evidence regarding player mistreatment conflicted. Taylor testified that she did not mistreat her players and that any allegation to the contrary was “absolutely false.” Taylor specifically stated that she has “no problem with what [a student–athlete’s] sexual preference is,” that she recruited many players knowing their “alternative lifestyle,” and that she has “absolutely not … ever treated a player that lived the alternative lifestyle any different.” The record contains evidence contradicting Taylor’s testimony. However, Taylor’s testimony provides legally sufficient evidence for the jury’s conclusion that Taylor did not mistreat her players in a manner that gave Jackson State cause to fire her.

Likewise, the jury’s determination that Jackson State did not have cause to terminate Taylor for misappropriating funds was based on legally sufficient evidence. Even if the evidence showed that Taylor misappropriated funds, doing so only gave Jackson State cause to fire her if the misappropriations amounted to “deliberate, serious and willful violations of [Taylor’s] duties defined in the Agreement or refusal or unwillingness to perform such duties in good faith.” Taylor presented evidence that she engaged in the complained of fund-management activities pursuant to the instructions of Jackson State’s business manager, that she had previously engaged in the same activities without objection from the university, and that male coaches engaged in the same activities without reprimand. Drawing all reasonable inferences in favor of Taylor, the jury had sufficient evidence to conclude that any policy violation was not “deliberate, serious and willful” and that Taylor performed her duties “in good faith.” A reasonable jury could have concluded that Taylor’s