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Purdue spent $320K in discrimination lawsuits

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) – Purdue University spent more than $320,000 in legal fees battling state and federal lawsuits filed by the former chancellor of Indiana University Purdue University.

The Journal & Courier in Lafayette reports former Chancellor Michael Wartell alleged he’d been discriminated against after Purdue’s board of trustees declined to extend his contract past retirement age. The then 65-year-old Wartell was ousted in 2011 and replaced with 64-year-old Vicky Carwein.

According to records obtained by the Journal & Courier, Purdue spent $161,812, beginning in July 2012, in a state open records lawsuit and $168,312, beginning in April 2013, for defense in a federal lawsuit.

Much of those fees were spent battling court orders to release an independent investigation by attorney John Trimble that found Purdue could have handled the forced retirement better.