By Petulia Clarke, Staff ReporterA FORMER lecturer at the Northern Caribbean University (NCU) in Manchester is suing the University for $100 million "for great harm and injuries done to his credit, character and reputation".
The lecturer is also demanding a public apology from the University for statements which it released to the public and which has resulted in the suit.
Dr. Miguel Brooks who taught psychology courses at NCU says the University still owes him $270,000 for two classes taught and has slandered him.
According to his attorney Michael A. Lorne, a contract of employment was entered into between NCU and Dr. Brooks in 2001 which was signed by NCU.
The contract was for Dr. Brooks to be an instructor in one course and he was to be paid $135,000 for the assignment. Mr. Lorne said in a letter to president of NCU Mr. Herbert Thompson that Dr. Brooks was in fact teaching three courses and not one as said in the contract, as shortly after he started he was approached by the head of the behavioural sciences department to teach two other courses to be paid $270,000 for both.
He was thus expecting $405,000 for the three courses he lectured.
Dr. Brooks said that he worked at NCU from May 2001 to 31st December 2001 when the contract(eight months) ended normally. Due to a dispute between NCU administration and himself on money owed, he withdrew his students' final grades to hasten payment. He subsequently released the grades.
He said in a 'statement of information' that on January 17 this year he was called to participate in a radio programme where certain accusations were levelled at him by a NCU representative.
"He stated that I'd been fired or dismissed (false)," Dr. Brooks said. "On 19th January a long press release from NCU again repeated the allegation and that NCU had been unable to verify my credentials."
The same was repeated throughout January in a press statement released by NCU and again read on radio. NCU also published Dr. Brooks' and others name in The Gleaner in the format "are no longer associated with the University and is therefore not authorised to transact any business on behalf of the University etc."
Mr. Lorne said that NCU had committed "a most serious slander which would forever affect Dr. Brooks in holding a job in any educational institution."
Dr. Brooks said that he can confirm that NCU does not have any documents to substantiate claims they have made about his credentials.
"I was never asked to submit an academic documentation, I was only required to prove that I was an Adventist and would adhere to church dogmas and principles," he said. "My character, reputation and prestige have been badly damaged by the actions of the NCU officials by means of this unwarranted assault on my personal integrity. It is now unlikely that I will be able to secure employment for a long time."
When contacted for a comment by The Gleaner, Mr. Herbert Thompson through a representative said "he does not wish to rehash this episode."
Mr. Lorne is also contesting the University's contract of employment which says that as a Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) institution, NCU reserves the right to hire, discipline and terminate faculty and administration for violations of the teachings of the Church."
Mr. Lorne describes the document as unusual and unconstitutional.
In a letter addressed to the NCU he says "I have been instructed and verily believe that your institution receives substantial financial assistance from the Government, in other words you are accepting tax payers emoluments to propagate that ... "service with NCU shall be in accordance with the policies, principles and standards of the SDA religion...", he also says. "It is therefore my intention to bring such to the attention of the Ministry of Education with a view to having all subventions from the Government cease until such illegality is corrected."
The lawsuit has been filed at the Supreme Court and a writ of summons was served on NCU. If things proceed without the NCU entering an Appearance, a default settlement will be sought.
