Former UW-Madison Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Paul Barrows filed a lawsuit against Chancellor John Wiley and former Dean of Students Luoluo Hong Tuesday, claiming Wiley forced him to use his sick and vacation time and violated his due process rights.
Barrows is also accusing Hong of interfering with his employment by providing \unverified"" information that he sexually harassed a woman.
The lawsuit precedes a report to be issued later this week by the university detailing an investigation conducted concerning Barrows actions.
Barrows' attorney, Lester Pines, issued a lawsuit that said, ""On Nov. 1, 2004, Hong sent a secret eight-page memorandum to Wiley accusing Barrows of 'impropriety in a consensual relationship.'"" According to the suit, the memorandum also implicated Barrows in other improper conduct and demanded he be fired.
According to the suit, Wiley placed Barrows on leave from his position Nov. 4, 2004, based on Hong's accusations.
While on leave, Barrows sought other employment and received an offer from Hunter College with a salary of $150,000.
The lawsuit said Wiley told Barrows he could return to UW-Madison as Special Assistant to the Chancellor at the same salary, so Barrows declined the position at Hunter College.
On June 17, 2005, according to the suit, Hong met with Wiley and claimed there were scores of women who would come forward to complain that Barrows had sexually harassed them. Hong did not divulge any names, the suit said.
It claimed, ""Wiley, on the basis of Hong's information, concluded that Barrows had lied to him when he had told Wiley he did not have a relationship with any other UW-Madison student or employee. Wiley declined to allow Barrows to take the position of Special Assistant to the Chancellor at a salary of $150,000 and instead placed Barrows in a different position at a salary of $72,881.""
UW-Madison spokesperson John Lucas said the university would not comment on the issue.
Christopher Kelly, a private attorney who lectures at the UW-Madison Law School, said it is not unusual for someone to sue to protect his or her job because of due process.
""He can't be fired without having a hearing that shows that there is adequate cause for his dismissal,"" Kelly said.
Barrows is claiming due process because according to a Wisconsin state statute, the university cannot terminate his job without a proper investigation.
Barrows' attorney Lester Pines told The Daily Cardinal the lawsuit has nothing to do with the university's investigation report on Barrows to be released later this week.
""We believe the suit has merit,"" Pines said.
