ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Two plaintiffs have filed a lawsuit against the University of Michigan, alleging the school violated the state’s Freedom of Information Act by withholding records related to the investigation and termination of former football coach Sherrone Moore.
The complaint, filed Tuesday (July 7) in Washtenaw County Circuit Court, seeks to compel the university to release documents connected to Moore’s alleged inappropriate relationship with a university employee, as well as other records related to the university’s investigation.
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Who filed the lawsuit
Plaintiffs Paige Shiver, a former Michigan Wolverines football department employee, and her attorney, Julie Murphy, allege the university improperly denied multiple public records requests submitted between February and June 2026.
According to the lawsuit, the requested records include investigative files related to Moore’s termination, interview recordings and transcripts, communications between university officials and Moore, emails between Moore and Athletic Director Warde Manuel, and messages submitted to a university reporting email account managed by outside law firm Jenner & Block.
What the university is accused of
The lawsuit contends the university cited a variety of reasons for denying the requests, including ongoing investigations, privacy exemptions, claims that responsive records did not exist, and assertions that one request was overly broad.
The plaintiffs argue those denials violate Michigan’s FOIA law, which favors public disclosure of government records unless a specific exemption applies.
The complaint also alleges the university failed to obtain responsive records from Jenner & Block, despite the firm’s role in conducting the investigation and the plaintiffs’ belief that those records are within the university’s control.
Additional allegations
Shiver, who worked in the university’s football department from October 2021 through December 2025, also alleges she experienced sex discrimination and a hostile work environment in violation of federal and Michigan civil rights laws.
The complaint further alleges that unidentified university employees improperly accessed her medical records, violating her privacy rights and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
The lawsuit asks the court to order the university to release the requested records, declare the university’s actions unlawful under the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, award attorney fees and costs, and impose punitive damages authorized under the statute if the court finds the university acted arbitrarily and capriciously in denying the requests.
The University of Michigan had not filed a response to the complaint as of Wednesday.
Shiver speaks publicly about relationship with Moore
Shiver previously spoke publicly about her relationship with Moore during an interview with ABC News anchor Linsey Davis, which aired on “Good Morning America” on Friday, April 24.
Shiver, now 32, told ABC she started as an intern with the football program in 2021.
Her consensual relationship with Moore began in January 2022.
When Moore became the university’s head football coach in 2024, Shiver was promoted to be his executive assistant.
‘Complete control’
During the interview, Davis asked about Shiver’s allegations that she faced years of harassment and manipulation from Moore.
“Here’s a man that had complete control over me,” Shiver said. “Over my emotions. Over my career. And he knew that. And he used it against me. Every time I tried to pull away, every time I tried to get out of even Michigan, he always had a story, always had a way to pull me in and making me feel that I couldn’t leave him because he was so miserable without me.”
Shiver also said she felt pressured to remain in the relationship to keep her job.
“I mean, he and other coaches had control over my career, especially him,” Shiver said. “I mean, he could fire me in a second.”
Pregnancy, rare disease, difficult decision
Shiver revealed during the interview that she became pregnant by Moore during the relationship, a pregnancy complicated by Pompe disease, a rare genetic condition in which a complex sugar called glycogen builds up in the lysosomes of the body’s cells, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
The condition can cause severe muscle weakness and, without early detection and treatment, can be fatal.
Due to the diagnosis, Shiver had an abortion.
“Multiple doctors and experts told me that it wouldn’t be right or healthy for me to keep the baby,” Shiver said.
When Davis asked Shiver whether she wanted to keep the baby, Shiver became visibly emotional.
“Yeah,” she said.
When asked how Moore responded to the news, Shiver said: “He said you have to do what’s right for your body.”
Davis also asked Shiver if she had loved Moore.
“Back then, I did, but obviously, looking back at things and really reflecting on what happened, what was happening, yeah, that’s not love at all.”
University’s response when Shiver reported the affair
On Dec. 10, 2025, Shiver reported the relationship to the university.
“They said, ‘You know we’re really sorry about everything you went through, and we’re here to protect you and help you through all of this,’” Shiver said.
After that conversation, Moore was fired. Shiver said former colleagues, including those in leadership positions, knew about their relationship and did nothing.
“He controlled everything that was going on in my life, and they didn’t do anything about it,” Shiver said.
Moore shows up at Shiver’s apartment
Less than an hour after being fired, Moore went to Shiver’s apartment. Shiver shared what happened from her perspective.
“All of a sudden, I hear footsteps, and they’re getting closer and louder, and I’m like crap, so I run to my door to try and lock it,” Shiver said. “He barges in, and he’s standing like this close to me, and he said, ‘You ruined my life. Why would you do this to me?’ And then I start backing up, and he starts following me.”
When Davis asked if she feared for her life, Shiver did not hesitate.
“Oh my gosh, yes,” Shiver said. “I mean, he’s 6′4, and he comes in with his hood up, looking down at me, saying, I ruined his life, crying. Then he starts coming at me, and I tell him to leave, and he’s not supposed to be here. He’s not listening to me. And then he starts grabbing, yes, butter knives.”
Moore’s sentence
Moore was sentenced to 18 months of probation after he pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor charges as part of a plea deal.
The charges he was initially issued, third-degree home invasion, stalking, and breaking and entering, were dismissed as part of the agreement.
Davis asked Shiver if she felt Moore should have gone to jail.
“Yes,” Shiver said. “I think he should’ve gotten more punishment for what he did.”
Why Shiver is speaking out
This lawsuit and the April interview mark the first times Shiver has spoken publicly about what happened.
She said she hopes sharing her story will help other women in similar situations.
“I just want other women that are going through this to know that this doesn’t need to happen, this doesn’t need to go this far,” Shiver said.
We reached out to the university, and they declined to comment.