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Judge tosses fraud claim, but ORU lawsuits still alive
 
By SHANNON MUCHMORE World Staff Writer
Published: 2/20/2009  2:23 AM
Last Modified: 2/20/2009  2:23 AM

A Tulsa County district judge dismissed a former Oral Roberts University accountant's claim of fraud Thursday but kept other elements of the lawsuit alive.

In a former student's lawsuit, which also was heard Thursday, the judge made no ruling and set separate hearings in March to continue arguments.

The case of the former accountant, Trent Huddleston, could be decided March 2, when District Judge Michael Gassett is set to determine whether claims including negligence, wrongful termination and emotional distress will continue.

Huddleston alleges that he was forced to list financial transactions improperly to allow ORU's former president, Richard Roberts, and his wife, Lindsay Roberts, to misspend university money.

The former student, David Brown, claims that he was unable to complete his history degree after ORU fired one of his professors.

The lawsuits were filed in November 2007, along with one by three former professors that was settled last year with undisclosed terms.

Lawyers for Richard and Lindsay Roberts argued that the firing of professor John Swails could not have interfered with Brown's education. Classes that would have allowed Brown to obtain his degree still were offered.

Brown's lawyers said that Roberts, as ORU's president, was responsible for the matter.

Roberts resigned soon after the lawsuits were filed.

Gassett said Thursday that he needed more time to review briefings and recent court decisions that could affect the case.

"I've got more questions than I've got answers," he said.

In the Huddleston case, ORU attorney Jo Anne Deaton said the plaintiff has had plenty of opportunities to convince the judge of the case's merit.

"It just seems at some point there has to be an end," she said. "And I think we're there, Judge."

Gassett said the court is close to resolving the case but that more arguments should be heard.




Shannon Muchmore 581-8378
shannon.muchmore@tulsaworld.com
By SHANNON MUCHMORE World Staff Writer

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pm, (2/20/2009 3:42:04 AM)
These lawsuits needs to be thrown out. As for the firing of the Professor interfering with getting a degree that is bull. I have a medical degree (which is more important than a history degree) and during my time in medical school I lost professors because they were fired etc. It did not interfere with me getting my training. I have a very successful business, very happy in my profession. Also it is not up to the President of a school to let go of a professor but it is up to the board, regents and/or trustees not up to one individual to fire someone so that is bull. Every one here needs to grow up and get on with there lives. It is no one's fault that they can't grow up and get on with there lives but there own. I pray that the judge will throw out these cases and everyone get on with there lives, because there is no reason for this to be going on, It is not unusual for a Judge to read pleadings more than once but even the Judge has doubts about these cases going on.
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Graychin, Eucha (2/20/2009 9:36:34 AM)
The Brown case sounds weak at best.

The Huddleston case? If he kept copies of evidence, this one could be huge. Apparently that didn't happen, or ORU would have settled it long ago.
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TulGal, Tulsa (2/20/2009 11:34:01 AM)
pm, you really have a medical degree and a very successful business? I hope you have someone on staff to do your writing for you, especially if you have reports to write or correspondence of any kind. I lost count of all the errors in your post.
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Pastor Rich, Tulsa (2/20/2009 11:58:35 AM)
What really concerns me the most is that this is so typical of major Christian ministries that have been caught in their sins. Instead of humbling themselves, confessing their sins and doing what is right in order to help bring restoration to those they have harmed, they make every effort to cover up their sins and continue on as though nothing ever happened. It reminds me of a bunch of cats covering up their poop in the litter box. The Church should be outraged, and indeed many in the Church are. Unfortunately all too many are woo-ed and seduced by the *big* ministries and just ignore the fact that the Church is sick and diseased, plagued with *superstar* syndrome (among many other things) which is idolatry. Most choose to ignore the truth because it is painful. But God uses pain oftentimes to teach us truth. Instead they choose to play stupid and bury their heads in the sand. So the lies continue and the *big* ministries hardly skip a beat. Instead they continue to look at you through the TV screen each night and try to tell you that you're robbing God if you don't send them a sacrificial offering in order to get (buy) your miracle. And if you send them $____.__ (fill in the blank), they will send you a packet of their special miracle oil to rub on your stupid little head. Man, If Jesus was still in the grave (and He's not!), He would be rolling over so fast it would make your head spin. The tables of the money changers in the temples need to be turned over once again.
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MPW, (2/20/2009 7:42:06 PM)
I believe that Richard Roberts is innocent. Oral Roberts is a man of God. He won't lie.
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I'mjustme, Thomasville (2/20/2009 11:03:33 PM)

TulGal

Who made you the overseer of pm's comments? It does not mean he is not a doctor. He writes ok. He is into science more than correspondence. What is your problem, apparently you have one?
I have a MS degree and my writing and sentence structure is lacking. SO WHAT IS IT TO YOU. NONE OF US ARE PERFECT, including you.
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I'mjustme, Thomasville (2/20/2009 11:06:16 PM)
Attn: TulGal

I do double negatives all the time. Who cares what you think.
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Pastor Rich, Tulsa (2/21/2009 1:38:50 AM)
MPW has been drinking too much of the Charismatic kool-aide!
 

 
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