ASHLAND — A lawsuit brought by seven former faculty members against Ashland University is scheduled to go to trial next week in Ashland County Common Pleas court.
The plaintiffs allege the university violated their contracts by terminating them without cause, despite the each of the six faculty members having tenure.
The university argues the non-renewals were the result of a formal restructuring of academic programs, one of three acceptable circumstances under which tenured faculty may be terminated under the university’s faculty rules and regulations. The plaintiffs say there was no formal restructuring in the specific faculty members’ programs or departments.
Plaintiffs in the case include Stephanie Sikora, Rachel Wlodarsky, William Cummins, Boris Kerkez, Deleasa Randall-Griffiths, Jeffrey Tiel and Pravin Rodrigues.
The former faculty members were notified in August 2015 that their contracts would not be renewed and that their termination was effective Dec. 31, 2016, according to a pretrial statement filed by the university.
Court records show the parties underwent settlement negotiations including a mediation process but were unable to reach a resolution acceptable to both sides.
Representing the plaintiffs in the lawsuit is attorney Leslie Murray. The university is being represented by Barnes & Thornburg, the same law firm that recently conducted “a thorough and independent review” of the university’s hiring practices and substance abuse policies.
The probe came after university president Carlos Campo’s son Brandon, who was also a university employee, pleaded guilty to drug possession and endangering children. Ashland Municipal Court Judge John Good sentenced Brandon Campo to 180 days in jail, the maximum sentence for his crimes.
After the investigation was complete, trustees sent a letter to the university community saying Barnes & Thornburg “found no evidence that President Campo attempted to influence the hiring of his son into an entry-level position in the admissions office. Further, the report found that no university policies had been violated in the hiring process.”
The civil trial regarding the termination of former faculty members is scheduled to begin April 17 and continue through April 26, according to Judge Ronald Forsthoefel’s docket.
Ashland University has filed a motion asking the judge to order that certain types of evidence, testimony and argument not be permitted at trial. The judge had not yet ruled on the motion as of Friday, April 12.
