By Josh Margolis
HELENA, Mont. (NMB) – The Montana Supreme Court has ruled on the long-running case filed by MSU-Northern faculty member Randy Bachmeier alleging that he was touched inappropriately by now-former Provost Rosalyn Templeton, and that the University retaliated against him for reporting it.
The State Supreme Court affirmed the 2016 decision from the Montana Human Rights Commission that awarded Bachmeier a total of $100,000, which reached the conclusion that Bachmeier was harassed and the University did retaliate against him. They also affirmed a 2019 District Court ruling that MSU-Northern pay Bachmeier’s attorney fees, which was set at $360,072.75.
Bachmeier is the Dean of Extended Studies for Northern. Templeton, who was Bachmeier’s Direct Supervisor, resigned effective January 2014.
Bachmeier said in his complaint Templeton inappropriately touched his leg, arm, shoulder and back several times between 2010 and 2013.
Factual background included in the Supreme Court’s ruling added that numerous witnesses testified that Templeton “would ‘stroke’ male coworkers on their arms, massage their shoulders, and massage or rub up and down their backs.” The document adds that coworkers described “Templeton’s touching as ‘borderline fondling,’ ‘inappropriate for a boss or a supervisor,” and ‘inappropriate, kind of creepy.’
The retaliation claim that was upheld by the State Supreme Court states that MSU-Northern “retaliated against Bachmeier when Templeton gave him a verbal reprimand and when MSU-N took “special care” to single him out in the provost search process,” ensuring he would not be eligible for the position.
MSU-Northern declined to comment on the ruling, saying it is a “personnel issue.”
Bachmeier’s attorney, John Heenan, provided the following statement to New Media Broadcasters:
This case has gone on for seven long years. We are glad that it is finally over. We are glad that Randy has finally been vindicated and justice served. And we are glad that the Montana Supreme Court has affirmed the right of all Montanans to work in an environment free from harassment.
This post has been updated
