Tulsa World: ORU settles lawsuit with 2 former professors

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ORU settles lawsuit with 2 former professors

Oral Roberts University announced Wednesday that the school has settled a lawsuit filed by two former professors a year ago. TOM GILBERT/Tulsa World File

By SHANNON MUCHMORE World Staff Writer
Published: 10/22/2008 8:15 PM
Last Modified: 10/22/2008 9:27 PM

Complete coverage: Read all the stories and documents related to the ORU lawsuit.

Oral Roberts University has reached a settlement with two former professors who sued the university a year ago alleging wrongful termination and other claims.

ORU announced the settlement in a statement Wednesday night and said the terms are confidential. “This matter is now resolved and we are pleased to have it behind us,” Interim ORU President Ralph Fagin said in the statement.

Lawyers for ORU and the two professors, Tim and Paulita Brooker, were scheduled for court-ordered mediation Wednesday.

Former ORU President Richard Roberts, who was also sued along with his wife, Lindsay Roberts, released his own statement through an attorney.

“The university decided to settle the lawsuit with the Brookers, and I support the university. I cannot comment any further at this time,” he said.

Lawyers for the Brookers sent a letter in August asking for $2.5 million to settle the suit, but ORU did not accept the offer at that time. The lawsuit asks for at least $10,000 in actual damages and $10,000 in punitive damages for both of the professors, and well as attorney fees and court costs.

The Brookers’ lawsuit alleged misspending by ORU and its administrators.

It claimed that the Robertses spent university funds to support a lavish lifestyle for their family.

Another professor, John Swails, was part of the lawsuit, but he settled during an earlier mediation conference and has returned to teaching at ORU.

The lawsuit sparked a dark and controversial year for ORU. After receiving a vote of no confidence from the faculty, Richard Roberts resigned in November.

More lawsuits were filed; the university revealed that it was $55 million in debt; and evangelicals on the board faced congressional scrutiny.

As some began to fear for the university’s very existence, Yukon businessman Mart Green and his family stepped up to offer ORU $70 million.

Most of the gift was contingent on the university’s adapting shared-governance policies and more transparent financial dealings.

The university accepted the conditions and has since been working to create a new culture on campus.

Green, whose family founded Hobby Lobby and the Mardel Christian stores chain, was made chairman of the board of trustees.

In the meantime, a former accountant who alleges that he was forced to commit fraud for ORU and a former student who said he was not able to complete his degree have also sued.

The accountant’s lawsuit claims that more than $1 billion annually was funneled through a miscellaneous account and possibly given to ORU regents.

Last month, a judge moved toward dismissing those cases but allowed attorneys more time to replead their cases. By SHANNON MUCHMORE World Staff Writer

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	Report Comment I am Cory, Paris (10/22/2008 9:11:43 PM) Those professors better take the income in 2008 because Obarry would want to "spread their wealth" to the high school dropouts on welfare that want their share of the pie.
	Report Comment pm, (10/22/2008 9:41:05 PM) About time they settle. Now prayfully this is over.
	Report Comment tulsaGuy, (10/22/2008 10:56:29 PM) I guess the two former professors "named it and claimed it." ORU faculty and students, be careful of any teaching that is more presumption than faith.
	Report Comment willi, (10/23/2008 12:52:22 PM) Who made Oral rich?
	Report Comment Cooldaddy, Broken Arrow (10/23/2008 4:51:08 PM) Richard Roberts and his wife are both crooks!
	Report Comment Tasia, (10/23/2008 11:18:45 PM) Doesn't it take a crook,to know a crook. All they did was to make some mistakes,that became public.Other people's mistakes generally stay private. I like The Roberts,they did many positive things for ORU.They were loved by the students.

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