MADISON Wis.
The state will no longer seek reimbursement from a former University of Wisconsin-Whitewater dean who was fired for financial mismanagement, under a legal settlement made public Thursday.
Under the settlement, former dean of graduate studies and continuing education Lee Jones dropped a federal lawsuit that claimed university officials discriminated against him because he’s black.
In exchange, state lawyers dropped a countersuit that sought to recapture at least $10,000 in school money they say he misspent on things like computers, furniture and travel for himself. Jones acknowledged accounting mistakes but denied spending money on himself.
“We’re happy to have this behind us,” UW System spokesman David Giroux said Thursday.
Jones was fired as dean two years ago after a stinging audit accused him of financial mismanagement. The audit said he repeatedly broke university rules for spending and travel during his one-year tenure as dean. It also faulted UW-Whitewater for a lack of oversight.
Lawyers for both sides notified U.S. District Judge Rudolph Randa of the settlement this week. Randa accepted the deal on Wednesday and officially dismissed both cases.
