University of Michigan spends over $12 million on Jenner & Block probe, declines to release report
The University of Michigan has paid more than $12 million to law firm Jenner & Block for an investigation into former football coach Sherrone Moore and the athletics department, but it has refused FOIA requests for the investigation’s findings, citing attorney-client privilege.
The University of Michigan has incurred total fees exceeding $12 million for a private investigation conducted by Chicago law firm Jenner & Block. The firm was hired in late 2025 to examine the circumstances surrounding the dismissal of former football head coach Sherrone Moore and to assess the broader culture of the university’s athletic department. Recent invoices show the university paid $67,371 for services rendered through May 31, 2026 after a 12.5 % discount, and a second invoice of $130,608 for the same period.
The university denied a Freedom of Information Act request for any findings, conclusions, or communications from the law firm, arguing that the documents are protected by attorney-client privilege. University spokesperson Paul Corliss said, "Documents related to these attorney-directed investigations are privileged and confidential and protected by attorney-client privilege. Maintaining the confidentiality of these documents preserves the integrity of the investigative process, protects the privacy of those who participated and helps safeguard those individuals from potential retaliation."
The investigation’s scope includes alleged Title IX and Title VII violations within the athletics department. Former assistant coach Paige Shiver and her attorneys have filed a lawsuit claiming the university is withholding records required under Michigan’s open-records laws. Civil-rights lawyer Andrew Stroth of Action Injury Law Group said the lawsuit aims to ensure that “the truth and facts come out.”
Sources familiar with the matter said the Board of Regents was briefed on the investigation’s findings in June, and that athletic director Warde Manuel is involved in buyout discussions with the university. The Wall Street Journal reported that Manuel allegedly told Moore in 2024 that Shiver was not permitted to travel with the team, a claim Manuel has denied. A separate report in The Athletic indicated that players and staff raised concerns about the Moore-Shiver relationship during preseason camp in 2024 and that a complaint was filed with human resources.
The Board of Regents is scheduled to meet on Thursday, July 16, in Traverse City. The agenda does not list the investigation, but the topic could be raised during the session, which will be livestreamed.