First Amendment retaliation case

Former MTSU Associate Dean Sues University Officials for Firing Over Private Facebook Posts

Yezbak Law Offices, together with its co-counsel, has filed a federal First Amendment retaliation lawsuit on behalf of Laura Sosh-Lightsy, a longtime Middle Tennessee State University administrator who alleges that she was terminated on September 10, 2025, because of private Facebook posts about the murder of political commentator Charlie Kirk.

Download the Complaint (PDF): Yezbak-Complaint.pdf

The Complaint, filed on November 5, 2025, alleges:

• Sosh-Lightsy devoted nearly twenty years to MTSU, beginning as a case manager in the Office of Student Conduct and rising through the ranks to become Associate Dean of Student Care and Conduct in January 2025. Her work involved supporting students in crisis and promoting campus well-being. Her colleagues and supervisors consistently described her as professional, compassionate, and effective. Her most recent performance evaluation, completed July 8, 2025, rated her “Exceeds Expectations.”
• On the evening of September 10, 2025, she posted—on her private Facebook account visible only to her friends—comments critical of Mr. Kirk’s prior public statements about gun violence. Her remarks did not mention MTSU or her job or any students and were made from her personal account on her own time.
• Within hours, those posts were shared on X (formerly Twitter) by a former MTSU student and then amplified by Senator Marsha Blackburn. By late that same evening—without any prior discussion or investigation—MTSU President Dr. Sidney McPhee personally called Ms. Sosh-Lightsy and informed her she was terminated, effective immediately.
• MTSU used its campus-wide emergency alert system—normally reserved for safety notifications—to broadcast a message announcing her termination. The Complaint states that this extraordinary step served no legitimate safety purpose and was instead intended to publicly denounce Ms. Sosh-Lightsy and to distance the University from her protected speech.
• There was no disruption to classes, student services, or MTSU’s operations caused by Ms. Sosh-Lightsy’s social media posts, and MTSU’s termination of her employment was motivated by viewpoint-based political pressure from outside the University, in violation of the First Amendment.

The lawsuit seeks declaratory relief, compensatory and punitive damages, and attorneys’ fees under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.

The defendants are Dr. Sidney McPhee, MTSU’s President, and Dr. Danny Kelley, MTSU’s Interim Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students. They are sued in their official and individual capacities.

Key Filings:

Complaint (Filed Nov. 5, 2025): Yezbak-Complaint.pdf

Press coverage:

• WPLN
  • Fired MTSU dean sues university, citing political pressure around Charlie Kirk post.
• WKRN
  • Former MTSU dean sues after being fired over Charlie Kirk posts
  • Former MTSU dean sues after being fired over Charlie Kirk posts
• MTSU Sidelines
  • Laura Sosh-Lightsy discusses life, her lawsuit and recovery
  • The ex-assistant dean’s lawsuit, explained
• Tennessean
  • Former MTSU dean, fired for social media posts about Kirk, sues school.
• Nashville Scene
  • Former MTSU Assistant Dean Sues After Firing Over Charlie Kirk Comments.
• WVLT
  • Former MTSU admin files free speech lawsuit after firing over comments on Charlie Kirk assassination.
• NewsChannel 5
  • After being fired over a Charlie Kirk comment, former MTSU employee sues.
• The Center Square
  • Professors fired over Charlie Kirk comments sue.
• WZTV, Fox 17
  • Former MTSU administrator sues after firing for comments on Charlie Kirk’s murder

Support fund

Friends of Ms. Sosh-Lightsy have set up a fund to assist her with essential expenses while she is unemployed:
GoFundMe: Support Laura Sosh-Lightsy.

(Note: This link is provided for informational purposes only. Yezbak Law Offices is not affiliated with, does not manage, and does not control this fundraising campaign. The firm does not receive any portion of the contributions, and the decision to donate is entirely voluntary and independent of any legal representation.)