TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) -- Former Tupelo High School choral teacher Calvin Ellis has filed a federal lawsuit over his termination by the Tupelo Public School District.
Ellis was terminated by the district of October 28, 2011.
The decision was upheld by the TPSD Board of Trustees following an appeal hearing in March of 2012.
In his lawsuit, Ellis accuses the district of breach of contract, tortious breach of contract, interference with contracts, and violations of Ellis' due process and equal protection rights.
School officials at the time of his termination said they had received 23 different complaints.
In his lawsuit, Ellis claims the district didn't follow state law in reviewing the complaints against him.
He also claims interim superintendent David Meadows did not have the authority to contact the parents of students Ellis had a private contract with for voice and music lessons that those contracts were canceled.
Ellis is currently the assistant choral director at Opelika High School in Alabama.
He is asking for unspecified monetary damages, attorney's fees and court costs from the district.
When asked about the lawsuit, Ellis' attorney says the lawsuit says all they intend to say at this time about his termination.
He adds they "intend to do our talking in a federal courtroom."
When contacted by WTVA.com, TPSD officials said they had not seen the lawsuit and could not comment at this time.
