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BREAKING: Former Minnesota State University Moorhead Professor Sues for Age Discrimination and Retaliation

January 20, 2016 By Peter Christian

STATEMENT FROM SCHAEFER HALLEEN, LLC — FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact

Peter G. Christian
Schaefer Halleen, LLC
412 South Fourth Street, Suite 1050
Minneapolis, MN 55415
Phone: 612-294-2619
Email: pchristian@schaeferhalleen.com
Web: www.SchaeferHalleen.com

FORMER MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY MOORHEAD PROFESSOR SUES FOR AGE DISCRIMINATION AND RETALIATION

Minneapolis, MN, January 20, 2016 – – – Dr. Claudia Murphy has sued her former employer, Minnesota State University Moorhead (“MSUM”), for age discrimination and retaliation. Dr. Murphy brought suit against the University alleging that it failed to hire her for a new professorship position created by the University in the Women’s and Gender Studies Program despite her clear qualifications for the role – and despite the preference of the search committee who wished, but was not permitted, to interview her for the position – as a direct result of her age and her complaints about the discriminatory hiring practices of the University.

Dr. Murphy, who is 63 years old, alleges that Dr. Randy Cagle, Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, orchestrated her ouster by insisting on discriminatory criteria for the position designed specifically to prevent Dr. Murphy and other older applicants from consideration, even over the protests of the search committee. Dean Cagle and MSUM instead hired a significantly younger, less experienced professor and failed to renew Dr. Murphy’s contract for the 2015-16 school year.

“It’s rare to see such direct involvement from the highest levels of leadership in these types of hiring decisions at public institutions, especially when a search committee was tasked with finding the highest qualified candidates,” explained Peter Christian at Schaefer Halleen, Dr. Murphy’s attorney. “We intend to prove that Dean Cagle was motivated by an age bias in demanding that the vacancy notice for this position include criteria which excluded older applicants such as Dr. Murphy from consideration and that MSUM failed grossly in overseeing this discriminatory hiring process, including by ignoring complaints about it.”

Dr. Murphy was a successful, popular professor in the Women’s Gender Studies Program (“WGS”) and Philosophy Department at MSUM since January 2009. She joined the University after gaining a national reputation in feminist science studies through nearly two decades of teaching and scholarly work on gender issues.

After her hire, Murphy quickly became a critical leader in building and growing the Women’s Gender Studies Program, especially a certificate program for women and science. In March 2015, recognizing the WGS Program’s growing popularity, MSUM decided to create an exciting opportunity for the Program, adding a new faculty position exclusively within it to begin in the 2015-16 academic year. It tasked a search committee with crafting a vacancy notice and finding the most qualified applicants for the position. Dr. Murphy was the first person contacted by the committee, as she had essentially performed the new role successfully for several years and was clearly a top candidate.

The Complaint – filed in Ramsey County on January 20, 2016 – alleges that Dr. Murphy was never granted an interview, as Dean Cagle refused to accept the search committee’s recommendations and excluded Dr. Murphy from consideration. It alleges that Dean Cagle insisted, over the protests of the search committee, that a “terminal” PhD specifically in WGS or Feminist Studies be required for the position, even though it meant excluding abundantly qualified older candidates and the applicants with the areas of expertise purportedly sought by MSUM (i.e. sustainability, women’s health, and feminist science studies).

“Put simply, the vacancy notice crafted by Dean Cagle was discriminatory on its face, as it disqualified older applicants,” said Mr. Christian. “The first terminal degrees in WGS or Feminist studies were not awarded until 1995. Unless an applicant was young enough to have earned their PhD after 1995, they simply do not have these degrees. Accordingly, leading experts in feminist science studies or feminist health studies who have been teaching and publishing on gender issues for decades, such as Dr. Murphy, do not have terminal degrees in WGS, but rather in philosophy, like Dr. Murphy, or in one or more scientific or health related fields.” Added Mr. Christian, “WGS is an interdisciplinary field. Most professors teaching in PhD programs in WGS or Feminist Studies in America do not have PhDs in WGS, regardless of their area of expertise and its relationship to gender issues. It is simply not credible that MSUM would require such a degree for any reason other than to exclude older applicants and hire a younger candidate. We intended to show that the practice was age discrimination prohibited by Minnesota law.”

Realizing the ramifications of the terminal degree requirement, the search committee attempted to overturn Dean Cagle’s directive, petitioning MSUM’s Human Resources Department to intervene in April 2015, without success. When Dr. Murphy learned that she had been excluded from consideration, she reported her concerns to MSUM President, Anne Blackhurst, and when President Blackhurst refused to intervene, she reported her concerns to the director of Human Resources. Despite these complaints and concerns expressed by the search committee and Dr. Murphy, MSUM refused to change the criteria for the position. Dr. Murphy’s application was subsequently rejected, without an interview. MSUM ultimately hired a significantly younger, less qualified professor for the position who is roughly 30 years old and who received her PhD in 2015.

“Dr. Murphy is truly a pioneer in the feminist sciences field. She used her expertise and reputation as a pioneer to help build a nationally recognized WGS program at MSUM. She deserved better, as did the other older applicants who were not considered for the position.” Added Mr. Christian, “We intend to demonstrate that but-for her age, she would still be teaching at MSUM.”

Joining MSUM was a coming-home for Dr. Murphy, who has spent most of her life in the Moorhead area and whose family has a long history with the University. Her mother taught in the department of speech and theater from 1968 to 1991 and her father and grandmother both received degrees from the University. Her parents are members of the Old Main Society, a life-
time giving society at the University.

“I’m concerned that what happened to me is part of a larger trend of age discrimination in the temporary workforce,” said Dr. Murphy. “Over the last several years, I have internalized MSUM’s values and worked hard to reflect them to my students, peers, and the community, especially its commitment to high-quality teaching and learning. I have honored my long term family traditions of giving to this institution. The search process for a professor in the WGS program ran afoul of those values. I owe it to my students, former colleagues, and the community to stand up and make sure this does not happen again.”

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT

Peter G. Christian at (612) 294-2619 or email at

pchristian@schaeferhalleen.com.

To review the background of Schaefer Halleen, LLC, and the groundbreaking discrimination and retaliation cases Peter Christian and Schaefer Halleen have prosecuted, please visit www.schaferhalleen.com. The publicly filed Complaint is available on this website as well.

###

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Filed Under: Age Discrimination, All Blog Posts, Peter G. Christian, Retaliation

About Peter Christian

Peter G. Christian is an employment litigator at Schaefer Halleen, LLC committed to protecting the rights of individuals in the workplace. As an advocate who takes pride in representing a wide range of employees – from top level executives to blue collar laborers – Peter has secured significant victories for an array of clients in many areas of employment related litigation, and against some of the biggest corporations in the world. Read more >

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Schaefer Halleen, LLC

Schaefer Halleen, LLC is located at:
412 S 4th St, Suite 1050, Minneapolis, MN 55415
Phone: 612-294-2600
Fax: 612-294-2640
Email: info@schaeferhalleen.com
www.schaeferhalleen.com

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Based on 55 reviews
Schaefer Halleen, LLC
Schaefer Halleen, LLC
4.6
Leon Griggs
Leon Griggs
15:49 12 Sep 23
I had no idea if or what legal rights I had involving employment law. After receiving consultation from Schaefer Halleen, a surprising and fair resolution was found to the expressed appreciation of all parties involved.Schaefer Halleen, Thank you for your help on this very important matter.
Don Mink
Don Mink
16:15 22 Aug 23
Lawrence was extremely professional and thorough in his research and communication with me and other parties. I highly recommend him and this firm and would personally utilize their services in the future.
Rembrandt Brown
Rembrandt Brown
19:16 10 Jul 23
Fantastic firm!
Al Krysan
Al Krysan
13:47 16 May 23
I engaged Peter Christian at Schaefer Halleen and his advice, guidance, and speed to resolution was just what I needed to move on in a better spot. I highly recommend this team!
Randy Reyes
Randy Reyes
16:13 28 Apr 23
Lauren D'Cruz did a wonderful job representing me on a complicated case. Her expertise, intelligence, and understanding of the circumstances and my personal story led to a very successful outcome and efficient process. I am extremely grateful for her expert work.
James Hannan
James Hannan
20:04 21 Apr 23
Excellent knowledge and easy to work with!
Mary Kallock
Mary Kallock
04:22 19 Apr 23
I highly recommend working with Schaefer Halleen. Each team member that I interacted with - Larry, Darren, and Jenelle - were extremely professional, respectful of my time and concerns, and were quick to address my needs. I worked closely with Darren Sharp for my case. Darren lives up to his surname - he is thorough, efficient, and no nonsense when it came to representing my needs. All the same, he is compassionate, engaged, and a pleasure to work with. Again, I highly recommend this firm and thank them for their support in my case!
Leann Barrick
Leann Barrick
05:00 25 Jan 23
I highly recommend this law firm. Peter took his time to explain how the legal practice would work so I knew what to expect and Jenelle showed compassion when listening to my needs. Peter resolved the settlement fast and I think you find out you'll be happy with this firm as well.
Smook Music
Smook Music
16:34 27 Dec 22
Jeff Hilligoss
Jeff Hilligoss
15:03 05 Dec 22
Larry Schaefer and the professionals at Schaefer Halleen are the team you want in your court for employment law matters. Consummate professionals, their expert, clear-eyed advice and counsel has been invaluable to me over the course of my career. And they are a delight to work with!
Tom Emison
Tom Emison
14:53 22 Nov 22
Tim Christensen is simply amazing; evenings, weekends, whatever it took to serve me. thank you Tim!
Mark Copeland
Mark Copeland
22:46 17 Nov 22
Tim was fantastic and really paid attention to detail. I recommend him and the firm to anyone who has employment legal issues.Mark Copeland
C Verdick
C Verdick
13:47 15 Nov 22
Peter and Makenzie were great to work with. Highly recommend.
Keely Hooper
Keely Hooper
17:48 02 May 22
Caroline Allen
Caroline Allen
10:56 03 Feb 22
I worked with Larry on a severance negotiation and was incredibly pleased with the work he did. He gave great advice and helped me end the negotiation in a very favorable spot.
Kit White
Kit White
18:22 07 Jun 21
I would highly recommend working with this firm if you're dealing with a legal case. They are so responsive, kind and compassionate. Darren made me feel heard and fought for me throughout the entirety of my case. It was not an easy experience, as legal cases tend to bring up a lot of emotions and trauma, but this firm will fight for you and make you feel heard. Highly, highly recommend.
Marcia
Marcia
14:18 02 Jun 21
I highly recommend Peter Christian and Shaefer Halleen. Clear communication and planning were key to our success. The team I worked with was empathetic and sensitive to my situation, and always helped me understand the overall legal process and what to expect during our case.
Amy A Houchins-Post
Amy A Houchins-Post
14:00 10 Mar 21
Lia
Lia
22:13 26 Feb 21
Peter and Lauren are patient and understanding. They considered my case from every angle possible. They also took the time to educate me a bit on how the law works. Very impressed!
Julie Koritz
Julie Koritz
01:27 25 Feb 21
Peter and Jacob did a great job getting me a settlement. I am very fortunate to have worked with them.
DeAijha Oliver
DeAijha Oliver
05:22 30 Dec 20
Henry V
Henry V
15:56 25 Sep 20
I worked with Larry Schaefer and Lauren D'Cruz. They enthusiastically took up my case. They showed creativity, good judgment and deep knowledge of the law in formulating the theory of the case. They also struck a fine balance between zealous advocacy and risk management. They were very responsive and provided timely status updates throughout our engagement. They took genuine interest in me as a person. I would recommend Schaefer Halleen to my family and friends without reservation.
Constance Lewis
Constance Lewis
15:46 10 Aug 20
I had the opportunity to work with Peter Christian. He was amazing to work with. He believed in my case from the moment we spoke and was diligent in working for me. He kept me in the loop on every aspect of my case, he allowed me to have input before decisions were made and fought for me from the very beginning to the end. He was prompt and followed through on everything he said he would. Peter was very professional, and timely. I truly appreciate the time and dedication to my case. Thank you Peter for taking the chance with my case and fighting for me. With Peter's expertise, my case was settled with a positive and favorable outcome. You were a pleasure to work with and I would highly recommend your services. Thank you again!
B Bowlby
B Bowlby
15:46 24 Apr 20
I cannot recommend Schaefer Halleen highly enough. I had a particularly hard employment issue and I found the people at S.H. to be excellent to work with. They are all very professional, very intelligent, handled me and my situation with care and always kept me up to date on where my case was at. In the rare instance when I contacted them by either phone or email I received a near immediate response.I was always made to feel that I was important and I always felt I was being given advice I could trust. At the end of the day my case was settled in a very timely manor and I am very pleased with how it turned out.Finally, the lawyers and staff at S.H. are some of the most experienced people in their industry and I was very impressed with their past accomplishments. I knew I could trust S.H. to handle my case after the very first meeting. If you need employment law help, Schaefer Halleen, LLC is the one and only firm I would recommend.
Roland Awasome
Roland Awasome
13:32 02 Apr 20
I am a professional and worked with many attorneys in the past. Peter is hands down the best out there. I can’t recommend him enough .
Laura H
Laura H
14:10 21 Feb 20
I am so thankful I found the Schaefer Hallen team to help me through one of the most difficult times in my life. Lauren always took the time to listen and was respectful and professional. Her attention to detail is impeccable, and she helped organize all my random thoughts and emails to help strengthen my case. Larry and Lauren kept me informed throughout the whole process and always made me feel like I was in control. With their expertise, my case was settled efficiently and with a positive outcome.
Mevhibe Atay
Mevhibe Atay
20:03 19 Feb 20
I had a great experience with the firm. My attorney Darren Sharp was very efficient, knowledgeable and kept me informed at every step. Very trustworthy and professional.
Ioannis Karampelas
Ioannis Karampelas
15:45 12 Sep 19
Extremely professional and humane treatment towards me as a person in severe trouble, perplexed by conditions generated totally out of my control. This law firm is outstanding.
Katy Eagle
Katy Eagle
16:54 16 May 19
Overall, the firm is great! Lauren D'Cruz is organized, thoughtful, and very pleasant to work with. I have enjoyed my interactions with everyone at Schaefer Halleen over the years. I highly recommend the firm and Ms. D'Cruz.
M. Malik
M. Malik
20:11 05 Apr 19
It is with great pleasure that I write this for Mr Schaefer and his capable people comprised of talent and empathy. I had a fear of Attorneys (due to my own weakness, no disrespect to the legal profession), but I felt pleasantly surprised after my visit to his firm located in the heart of Minneapolis - my home city that I am passionate about. Larry's office emblomized everything that I look for. The attorneys, the administrative staff, the decor, it all felt "happy" and "inter-connected". I had thought my case was too too hard to understand by others, however due to Larry's brilliance and savvy, it became evident to me that he understood it very well. He had a clear line of action and a resolve to seek justice with ethics. That was all that I desired. I hope Larry's office continues to serve the disability community, that it prospers, grows, and makes Minneapolis the best city in the world.
Sameh Said
Sameh Said
16:21 04 Apr 19
I am very thankful to Larry for helping me through a very difficult time of my life. My former employer discriminated against me and treated me very badly and I was forced to resign to end my struggle with this employer. I did not know what to do or who I can find to help me getting through this and restore my reputation and my employment. I met with several layers prior to my meeting with Larry and I can tell the difference immediately when I engaged with him. Larry told me what will happen in the first meeting and despite my process took several months, he was able to predict the successful outcome just through listening to me in that very first meeting. He has complete understanding of all employment related issues, he is focused and dedicated to help his clients getting back on track. His strategic thinking and the steps he made were the key to success. He also has a wonderful team that are just the right team to help. Quick response and timely feedback about what is going on with the case so you are always in the loop with the next step. Now I moved on to a new and a better employer and I feel I am beginning a new and a good chapter in my life, and I feel I can't thank Larry or his wonderful team enough for what they did to me and how they supported me to get through probably the worst chapter in my life.Thank you Larry
Rebecca Thavis
Rebecca Thavis
17:14 02 Apr 19
Larry truly went above and beyond. In each step of the case, he made sure I was aware of what was happening and the next steps. He called frequently, and followed my choices, making sure that I felt in control. I never felt like a victim, or less- he helped inspire me to fight for what I needed and deserved. If I had to go through it again, no questions asked, I would want Larry by my side every step of the way. His team is well organized, efficient, kind and discrete. I am forever grateful that Schaefer Halleen represented me, and I highly suggest them for any and all people who need empowering representation.
Joanne Simons
Joanne Simons
21:30 26 Mar 19
Excellent experience, outstanding staff, expedient, caring, respectful.
Jessie Lecy
Jessie Lecy
00:22 18 Mar 19
The humanness and genuine care for their clients separates this firm from others and makes it best in class.
John Styliaras
John Styliaras
23:55 17 Mar 19
Larry and his team at Schaefer Halleen helped bring to resolution issues at the workplace in an amicable manner. When I first approached Larry, I was not even sure what steps to take, what to do, did not even know if I needed a lawyer, or why I needed a lawyer. All I knew was that friends and colleagues told me to reach out to a lawyer. And when I asked around, his name and his firm's name kept on being mentioned by many. And the reputation was well deserved.Larry patiently and deliberately listened to my story, and then explained to me exactly why I needed a lawyer, and how he could help me. Immediately he laid out the plan about how to proceed. Instantly I was put at ease. Throughout a very long process, he provided me advice and guidance and was always willing to talk to me on the phone, whenever there were either updates, or I had questions and concerns.I am absolutely certain that I would had not been able to reach the resolution without Larry's and his team's steadfast guidance, advice, and impressive work. I recommend Larry and his firm unconditionally - the very best in the field.John C. Styliaras MD,MS
Ricardo Vidal Gonzalez
Ricardo Vidal Gonzalez
18:49 12 Dec 18
I highly recommend the Schaefer Halleen law firm. Larry Schaefer was always available to answer any questions and his team was very professional. They work hard to get results and take the time to listen to the client’s goals.
annette miller
annette miller
00:40 07 Nov 18
I found the team to be professional, respectful and very well versed in employment law. I would recommend them to anyone looking for advice or expertise in this area.
Lynn Hassan Jones
Lynn Hassan Jones
14:18 31 Oct 18
I am a physician who recently hired Schaefer and Halleen to represent me in an employment discrimination case, my Atty was Jean Boler ESQ.They provided top-tier legal services to me for my case 2017 through my settlement in 1st qtr of 2018.This was excellent legal representation, specifically - very responsive, very prompt, extremely detailed and never off-putting.Absolutely would recommend without reservation!
Doc MoSho
Doc MoSho
19:40 02 Jul 18
They were attentive and responsive and dod a great job of diffusing the tension in a situation that could have been quite adversarial. They also did an excellent job of level setting before the process proceeded to far in an unrealistic direction. Great work.
the Dodger
the Dodger
14:28 04 Jun 18
Joyce Jenkins
Joyce Jenkins
19:03 02 Jun 18
Larry has been a great resource for several years. His response time, quality of response and follow up are excellent. He has been flexible enough to answer an impromptu calI and get a response back within an hour. I recall talking to Larry early one morning when there was 8" of snow and most businesses were closed. He was the only one in the office to keep my appointment.I have recommended Larry to more than a dozen of my friends and colleagues and I feel very comfortable recommending him to anyone.Derek Jenkins
John
John
23:57 01 Jun 18
An honest lawyer? YES! Larry was fantastic and I can’t thank him enough for his unbiased advice and support.
Ravi B
Ravi B
21:00 01 Jun 18
Larry is amazing. Very professional, takes the time to listen, is very knowledgeable and respected and if he says he can get you justice - you can count on it.
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