SIOUX CITY -- A former Briar Cliff University president has sued the private Sioux City college for breach of contract in a lawsuit that came as no surprise.
Details of Hamid Shirvani's claim, which also alleges fraudulent inducement of contract, will remain unknown for now. The lawsuit was filed under seal on Friday because information contained in the lawsuit and supporting documents contain confidential and sensitive information that could harm both parties if it became public.
Filing under seal allows Shirvani and Briar Cliff to comply with their contractual obligations, his attorney, Chumahan Bowen, of Costa Mesa, California, said in the Woodbury County District Court filing.
People are also reading…
In a telephone interview Thursday, Bowen declined to elaborate on the other claims contained in the suit but not listed in his motion to file under seal.
"My client believes strongly in doing the right thing. My client believes strongly in the values of truth and integrity, and we believe we will prevail," Bowen said.
A judge last month granted Briar Cliff's request for a temporary injunction prohibiting Shirvani from disclosing confidential information he had proposed including in a lawsuit he had threatened to file against the college in May.
According to Briar Cliff's filing, Shirvani's 2016 employment agreement and a separation agreement in 2017 contained financial and donor information, contract information, managing, marketing, development and other proprietary information that he was contractually obligated to keep confidential.
Shirvani's lawsuit includes both contracts as exhibits. They also were filed under seal and are not available for public review.
The suit also names current board of trustees members Sister Cathy Katoski and Steve Freeman, former board member Michael Erpelding, the Sisters of St. Francis of Dubuque, which sponsor the university, and unnamed people as defendants.
"We are disappointed with the decision of the past president to file a petition against Briar Cliff University. Briar Cliff fully supports university leadership, as well as those named specifically in this petition, and is prepared to defend this action," the university said in a released statement.
Shirvani unexpectedly announced his resignation from Briar Cliff in July 2017 after 14 months on the job. At the time, he said his resignation was due to a combination of family, personal and professional considerations. He was succeeded by Rachelle Karstens, who was elevated to president a year ago after serving as the interim president since Shirvani's resignation.
Just months before his resignation, Shirvani had unveiled a five-year plan for the university that included improvements and upgrades to facilities and academic programs and changes in standards for students and staff.
The university's board of trustees reaffirmed its support for Shirvani two months prior to his resignation when dismissing a media report that he had been investigated for sexual harassment.
Shirvani had drawn both praise and criticism for his management style during two decades as a college administrator prior to his arrival at Briar Cliff. He is now a partner in the Higher Education Innovation Group, a Washington, D.C., consulting firm. He lives in Monterey County, California, according to court documents.
PHOTOS: Historic images of Sioux City's Riverside neighborhood
Riverside Boat club crew
Members of the Riverside Boat club practice in 1900.
Steam railroad
Steam railroad to Riverside Park and Interstate Fair, date unknown. The Interstate Fair started in Sioux City around 1913 as a livestock fair.
Riverside cleaning
Sioux Cityans clean up Riverside Park, circa 1900.
Sioux City circa 1940-1959
A view of Riverside can be seen in this photo taken from the bluffs between 1940-1959.
Riverside park rollercoaster
A group of women ride the Riverside park rollercoaster, circa 1900.
Riverside entertainment
People crowd around the Boat Club shore in Riverside park to watch circus entertainers work with elephants.
Riverview Park
Riverview Park is pictured. When World War II ended and television burst on scene, business faded at the park. It folded in 1953.
Riverview Park
Riverview Park attractions included baseball games, concert bands, roller skating and picnic lunches by the river.
Riverview ferris wheel
Riverview Park, a 35-acre amusement center that opened in 1927, had a roller coaster, fun house, merry-go-round, ferris wheel, tilt-a-whirl, ghost ride, chairplane, whips, electric cars, Leaping Lena, kiddie rides and a miniature train.
Interstate Fair
After the Interstate Fair ended in 1926, a new form of entertainment came to the Riverside neighborhood: midget auto racing.
Interstate Fair
The Interstate Fair boasted having some of the greatest agricultural exhibitions in the Midwest, drawing in thousands each fall from 1903 to 1926.
Sioux City fun
In its heyday, Riverside Park was a destination for thousands of Sioux Cityans and their friends from out of town. Sunday afternoon wasn’t complete without a boat ride on the river.
Riverside School
Riverside School opened sometime in the 1890s at Hornick Street and Nash Avenue. It closed in 1914.Â
Big Sioux River flooding in Riverside, 1969
About 50 Riverside High School boys filled 6,500 sandbags to be placed along the Big Sioux River dike, shown above.
Big Sioux flood 1969
Aerial photograph shows the U.S. 77 bridge separating Riverside and flooded section of North Sioux City at right on April 10, 1969. Water was flowing swiftly under both bridges but neither was in immediate danger.Â
Riverside Boat Club, ca. 1895
Riverside Boat Club, ca. 1895.
William Warnock Co.
Display of William Warnock Co. Dort and Liberty passenger cars at the Interstate Fair in South Riverside, ca. 1920.
Riverside Railroad drawing
A drawing of the Riverside Railroad.
Riverside street car
Riverside camp
A camp at Riverside. At the bottom of the photo are the words "Tribune Camp, Riverside" "'Johnie Smith's Joke'" and "Waltermire Pho (photography)."
Riverside Camping
Numerous campsites were set up at Riverside to beat the summer heat.
Riverside Pool
Swimmers at the pool in Riverside.
Riverside Pool
Swimmers at the pool in Riverside in this undated photo.
Tennis club in Riverside Park
Tennis club in Riverside Park
Boats on the river
Boats on the river at the Riverside Boat club
History of Riverside in Sioux City
A handful of flourishing boat clubs provided canoes for members and rowboats were in high demand at the public docks.
Riverside Park roller coaster
Women gather at the new roller coaster -- or gravity railroad -- at Riverside Park.
Sioux City Vinegar Works
The Sioux City Vinegar Works is shown in 1894. Work on the building began in 1889 in Riverside.
Yacht Club
This photo of the Yacht Club in Riverside was taken sometime between 1905 and 1920.
Yacht Club draws crowds
Boaters are shown on the Big Sioux River at the Yacht Club in Sioux City around 1910. The club was near what's now the Military Road bridge in Riverside.Â
Shore Acres Ballroom
The Shore Acres Ballroom, shown in this 1935 photo, was first opened in 1935 by Tom Archer in the former Shore Acres Boat Club along the Big Sioux River. It was a summer ballroom surrounded by wide verandas with a revolving bandstand at the south end of the floor. In 1955, Shore Acres was remodeled into a year-around ballroom. At the height of its popularity, Shore Acres had dances four nights a week, with area and name bands playing to crowds of customers. Shore Acres closed its doors July 3, 1965.Â
Hot air balloons in Riverside Park
Enthusiasts flock to Riverside Park, in Sioux City, to watch the big balloons take flight.
Hot air balloons
A hot-air balloon takes off in Riverside Park, in Sioux City.
Shirvani
Nick Hytrek
Court Reporter
Hytrek has been at the Journal since 1998, covering courts for much of that time. He is a Nebraska native and University of Nebraska-Lincoln graduate.
