A judge Friday ordered former LSU athletics administrator Sharon Lewis and her lead attorney, Larry English, to pay almost $200,000 in sanctions to Les Miles, saying their lawsuit accusing the former head football coach of conspiring to cover up sexual harassment allegations had no legal merit.
In July, state District Judge Beau Higginbotham sided with Miles' claim that Lewis and English made irresponsible and "willful misrepresentations" about the former coach. On Friday, the judge set the amount: $174,027 in legal fees and expenses and $25,000 in punitive damages, for a total of $199,027.
"The fiction novel Sharon Lewis authored as an attempt at corrupt financial gain ended today," Miles said in a statement after the sanction came down. "The ruling provides clarity about Lewis' persistent misrepresentation of the man I am. Justice is victory for all of us — a powerful reminder that truth vindicates."
In a statement, a spokesperson for English and Lewis said they plan to appeal. They also plan to seek Higginbotham's removal from the case, saying he ruled against them "because Miles is White and Sharon Lewis and Larry English are African-American."
Lewis sued Miles and several other top athletics department officials in both state and federal court, claiming they retaliated against her after she reported that two former students made sexual harassment allegations against Miles.
Last month, a jury dismissed all claims in federal court against the LSU officials after listening to six days of testimony. Several of the claims in state court are still being litigated.
It's the second time a judge has punished Lewis and English in the state case. In December 2022, now-retired judge Tim Kelly sanctioned them for about $330,000 for making false and frivolous allegations against three attorneys from Baton Rouge law firm Taylor Porter who represented LSU.
"Today’s sanctions award is a fitting end to a sad chapter in Coach Miles’ and LSU’s history but, throughout this unfair and hurtful saga, Coach Miles has acted with dignity and decency, and he is perhaps most proud of that," the coach's attorneys said in a statement. "Making false accusations and grabbing headlines is easy; fortunately, the justice system here has exposed the accusations for what they are, and a just punishment has now been imposed in response."
Lewis, however, said she intends to keep fighting.
“I knew taking on LSU in Baton Rouge would be challenging, but I did not believe I would be subjected to this level of racism from two judges whose duty it was ensure I received a fair trial,” she said in the statement. “I will not be bullied into abandoning my pursuit for justice. I remain confident I will prevail.”
In accusing Judge Higginbotham of racial bias, Lewis and English are echoing complaints made by East Baton Rouge Metro Councilman Cleve Dunn and his attorney, State Rep. Edmond Jordan. They recently filed a motion to remove the judge from a case in which Dunn was sued by neighbors who claimed the councilman's new pool kitchen was flooding their house.
Higginbotham ruled in the neighbors' favor and denied Jordan's requests to delay proceedings while he did legislative business.
During a hearing on Dunn and Jordan's motion for removal, fellow judge Don Johnson testified as a witness that some Black attorneys perceive Higginbotham as biased. Johnson said that perception was reinforced when Higginbotham switched election districts to one that had more White voters.
An ad hoc judge rejected Dunn and Jordan's complaints, saying he found no clear evidence of bias.
Higginbotham has declined to comment on the accusations, saying judicial rules bar him from speaking about active cases before him.