UH Files Lawsuit Against Former Men’s Basketball Coach Gib Arnold

Gib Arnold. File photo by Wendy Osher.

By Maui Now Staff

The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa filed a lawsuit on June 10, 2015 against former UH men’s head basketball coach Gibson Arnold.

The lawsuit seeks a court declaration that Arnold’s interpretation of his contract—that he is required to get paid twice as liquidated damages for his termination—is impermissible as a matter of law and public policy.

The lawsuit also seeks tort and equitable claims against Arnold for his actions and inactions while he was head coach of the men’s basketball team.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association launched an investigation into the UH men’s basketball program in March of last year and issued its Notice of Allegations in January, 2015.  On October 28, 2014, the University of Hawaiʻi notified Arnold that he was being terminated without cause.

According to the complaint, UH provided Arnold with a check in November 2012 in the amount of $2435 to pay for the team’s lodging at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.  The team had traveled there for a game against the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

The complaint further states that Arnold submitted a statement in which he certified that he paid $2,123 for the hotel; but The Palms claims it never received payment, and has since turned the matter over to a collection agency.

According to the lawsuit, UH claims that it requested proof of payment from Arnold, but that he has not responded.

UH paid Arnold a lump sum of $148,545 for the remaining time left on his employment agreement; but Arnold filed a grievance against UH claiming a violation of his agreement, and sought $1.4 million in damages.