By FITSNews || A high-profile lawsuit that Clemson University has been dragging out for more than two years has hit the internet in a big way – providing easy public access to dozens of documents, news reports and financial information that the embattled upstate University doesn’t want you to see.
Originally filed in January of 2008, the wrongful termination lawsuit of former Clemson Board of Trustees Secretary Chalmers Eugene “Gene” Troutman III has yet to be decided in court – but its impact on the school has already been seismic.
Fired in August of 2007 for insisting on greater fiscal accountability at the University, Troutman has spent the last thirty months seeking justice – which Clemson has sought to deprive him of by stretching out his case (and his legal resources) as long as humanly possible.
While Troutman continues fighting to clear his name, though, his case has generated a ton of embarrassing publicity for Clemson.
For example, his lawsuit revealed that the school was secretly pocketing tens of millions of dollars in a hidden bureaucratic reserve fund at the same time it was tripling tuition on parents. Along with a recent bureaucratic explosion and ongoing ethical issues surrounding Clemson’s obsession with the U.S. News & World Report ranking criteria, Chalmers’ lawsuit has been the source of many a headache in Tigertown.
Now, Chalmers is upping the ante by posting a searchable encyclopedia of his landmark case on a new website – ClemsonLawsuit.com.
The last court hearing in the Troutman case was held in April 2009 in U.S. District Court in Columbia S.C. before Judge Matthew Perry.
No action has been taken since.
While some have speculated that Perry’s age (he turns 90 this year) may be a contributing factor to the delays surrounding this case, others believe the judge is holding his ruling until President Barack Obama is able to appoint four new judges to the U.S Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, which would obviously change the composition of that court dramatically.
Stay tuned …
WEB EXTRA
By No Name January 16, 2010 at 4:10 pm
The power of the net unleashed….settle David before this goes any deeper. You may controll the Judges but this release will bring even more scorn.
In the end Men of Clemson is this not just a call to rectify what you all suspected….that Skelton and Barker had led the proud University astray.
This was always about some folks taking a great school and using it for the personal enrichment of a chosen few….if you look at some recent announcements….some of the smaller less well known rats are already jumping off the ship.
This guy loves the school as all of you do and felt this was the only way to rememdy what he knew would eventually kill the school.
Just change the leadership and settle…times are going to get toughter and you will need a clean slate to get through this.
By Just a good ole boy January 16, 2010 at 4:27 pm
FITS-somewhere Calhoun and Pitchfork Ben must be rolling over in their graves at the mess Clemson has gotten into. While I agree that the smart legal move would be to settle, given the time and expense Clemson has put into trashing Troutman’s reputation they have backed themselves into a legal corner that they can not get out of…teg
By CNSYD January 16, 2010 at 6:33 pm
No Name, Skelton? Which one? Why?
By Todd January 16, 2010 at 10:56 pm
Settle this damn thing. Somebody at Clemson is acting like Queen Jean Toal and that is not a good thing. “I am omnipotent and you are my servant!” Put it behind you, Clemson and move on. Quit acting like these USC politico’s and admit you made a mistake, pay a reasonable amount and fix the errors. We are better than “them.”
By southernmapart January 17, 2010 at 3:04 pm
May not be a totally bad thing to have the case drag on a while until Clemson is forced to clean up some of its bureaucratic mess.
Too many overpaid parasites who are completely out of touch with the real world economy. It is so bad that some of the extremely well-paid Clemson employees do not talk as if they are sane.
By Cleanhouse January 17, 2010 at 4:33 pm
The situation at Clemson is similar to the situation with Sanford: Large numbers of people know something should be done, but they do not want to be the ones who have to do the work. If Barker loves Clemson as much as he says he does, he will do the right thing and step down as president. He and his administration have brought shame to the university and have abused the power entrusted in them. They had their run on the town, and for the good of everyone, they now need to faciliate a transition to a legitimate university administration.
By V-n-MTP January 18, 2010 at 10:41 am
As a Clemson Alumnus, there is part of me that wants this suit to run its course. While that would inarguably = short term pain for ‘Dear Old Clemson;’ some things just need to be done. There has been something just not right at Clemson since Barker took over. I know it is considered heresy in Clemson circles to speak ill of James F. Barker, “FAIA”; however, I am ready for some new blood in Tigertown.
If this lawsuit is a means to that end, I think there is a plurality of Clemson Alumni that will (at least quietly) be pleased.
By Bridezilla May 7, 2010 at 2:59 pm
I wonder if Mr. Troutman’s Navy Seal attorney senses implied warnings from the Islamist Thug Ring running our country (and running it into the ground) when he sees reports such as this:
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/05/07/people-shot-death-old-navy-chicago/
Our military has been corrupted — one has merely to look at Nidal Hasan for proof of that.
Truly, much of the corruption in this state you people call South Carolina could be solved with a few well-placed bullets.
…Good Day (as Paul Harvey the Great would say)
By bb scott August 17, 2010 at 8:01 am
I suggest that you check out the article in the Anderson Independent.
You stated “The last court hearing in the Troutman case was held in April 2009 in U.S. District Court in Columbia S.C. before Judge Matthew Perry.
No action has been taken since” End of quote
It was announced on July 24, 2010 that Judge Perry dismissed the case. Troutman needs to get a life and grow up. He is mad because he was fired for just causes. He can not love the university as much as he says he does and create the problems he has created.
Clemson University wanted to settle out of court as far as his salary went. He was not satisfied. Trying to bring down a wonderful university such as Clemson is not right. Thank goodness monies had been held to build interest and to be able to afford the new buildings. Check out the status of other universities and you just might be surprised.
Being in the top 20 of great colleges is an honor and I for one am very proud of Clemson and resent anyone wanting to tear it down.
By fitsnews August 17, 2010 at 8:46 am
BB Scott-
This article was written on January 16, 2010 – six months before the ruling was issued.
We are prophetic, yes, but not that prophetic …
-FITS
By TomClem August 17, 2010 at 11:30 am
The above commentator “bb scott” equals either a Clemson administrator or, perhaps Pres. Barker himself. South Carolina has run so long on the “good ole boy system” that the good ole boys themselves see no wrong in their actions. Hey, it’s just business as usual in the Palmetto State. Why are all these people getting their shorts in a wad?