Florida Memorial University President William McCormick

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – A Miami-Dade Circuit Court judge dismissed a lawsuit which challenged the appointment of Florida Memorial University President William McCormick and a leadership dispute among the Board of Trustees.

Judge Javier Enriquez tossed out a lawsuit filed by the Board’s former interim Chair, Brandon Dumas, who was seeking an injunction to block the appointment and arguing he’s the chair, and not Walter Weatherington.

In his lawsuit, Dumas claimed a fraction of the Board of Trustees voted for the presidential appointment without proper notice and Weatherington was not authorized to call the meeting because he’s not the chair.

Dumas said he was appointed chair in May 2025 after serving on an interim basis but Weatherington sent him a letter in July and again in August stating he’s being removed from his position.

Enriquez upheld the presidential appointment, saying Dumas failed to prove he would suffer irreparable harm, lacked a substantial likelihood of success on the merits of his case and did not show that an injunction would serve the public interest.

Dumas said he plans to file an appeal.

The judges’ decision paves the way for McCormick to become Florida Memorial University’s 15th president in the school’s 146 year history, and the first ever alumni to assume the position.

He served as interim president for a year, replacing Dr. Jaffus Hardrick, who resigned due to health issues.