A former NFL player and current athletics dean at the prestigious Lawrenceville School has been at the center of a controversial lawsuit alleging an affair with a much younger employee, resulting in the firing of two veteran employees who complained about the conduct.
Sullivan “Tripp” Welborne, 57, a former Minnesota Vikings player and highly praised figure in the sports world, is accused in documents filed in Mercer County Superior Court of creating a high-level position for his alleged mistress, 38-year-old Nicole Stock.
Former NFL player allegedly promoted his mistress without justification
The lawsuit was filed by Karla Despinis and Richard Rienzo, who worked in athletic department management positions for more than two decades each before being fired earlier this year. According to information from the New York Post, they allege that Welborne used his position of power to reward Stock, resulting in an undeserved promotion.
According to the plaintiffs, the romantic relationship became evident from 2021 through inappropriate gestures in the workplace. The lawsuit even claims that Stock even “grabbed defendant Welborne’s butt at a hockey game”. In addition, Welborne allegedly granted Stock privileges, such as creating the position of “athletic director” and providing her with a vehicle to use on campus.
Despinis and Rienzo claim they noticed how the department was suffering and how Welborne was sidelining them, cancelling meetings and excluding them from key matters. When both formally complained to senior management in February 2022 about the “inappropriate relationship”, their contracts were terminated.
The school’s response
The plaintiffs’ attorney, Matthew Luber, noted that the school does not usually fire its staff and that “betrayed our clients and unlawfully terminated two dedicated employees who gave their heart and soul to mentoring students for over four collective decades”.
For its part, Lawrenceville School spokeswoman Jessica Welsh issued a statement denying the allegations: “We disagree with the allegations of wrongdoing in the lawsuit and plan to vigorously defend our position… We remain committed to fostering an environment of respect, integrity and growth within our community.”
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