HAMPTON, Va. — Hampton University has been hit with three lawsuits alleging breach of contract.
According to documents filed in Hampton Circuit Court, three people claim the school is wrongfully terminating their employment contracts.
One of the plaintiffs is Kelly Harvey-Viney, the daughter of former Hampton University President William Harvey. The other plaintiffs are Jesse Jackson, Jr, the son of civil right activist Jesse Jackson, and accomplished radio host, Dr. Wilmer Leon.
The complaint says Harvey-Viney was informed that her contract is ending in 2025, for her duties that include legal assistant to the vice president and Title IX coordinator, would not be enforced. The suit claims she was given an ultimatum to take a teaching position or leave.
Prior to that, Harvey-Viney claims things had changed under the new leadership of President Darrell Williams, who took over in July of last year.
She said a secretary for general counsel began calling her office every morning to check her attendance.
13News Now received a copy of a letter sent to Harvey-Viney from university officials. In it, it said she needed to clear her office by January 6 if she did not intend to take the new offer.
Verbena Askew, who is representing all of the plaintiffs, said Harvey-Viney was only told the university was moving in a new direction.
"There's been no issues raised about their ability to do the work," said Askew.
In the lawsuit, Harvey-Viney argued she is entitled to her salary over the next three years, totaling more than $380,000.
Jackson's suit contends his contract was terminated within weeks after he signed it to work as a scholar in residence.
He claims he agreed to a contract to be a scholar in residence for two years, and former Hampton University President Dr. William Harvey signed off on the offer on June 30, 2022.
The next day, July 1, 2022, Darrell Williams took over as the university's president.
On July 13, Jackson claims he received a phone call that the university rescinded the contract. Four days later, Jackson received a letter confirming that the school ended the agreement, according to court filings.
Jackson said he had already begun the moving process. Jackson believes he is entitled to more than $250,000 in damages, which includes his salary and a housing allowance for two years.
"They were done wrong, and the university needs to make it right," said Askew. "If you're teaching students to be honest and to honor your agreements, and then you have the leader of a university that doesn't do that, that sends a strong and bad message."
In another lawsuit, Dr. Leon claims he accepted a job to teach and was later informed he would not be hired. He's asking for $80,000 in damages.
According to the plaintiffs' attorney, the university will be served the lawsuits on Friday.
13News Now reached out to the university for comment, and this is what they said:
"Hampton University does not comment on pending litigation or personnel matters. However, Hampton University will continue to make decisions that are consistent with our values and in the best interest of our faculty, staff and students."