INSTITUTE, W.Va. ― The former West Virginia State University vice president of business and finance has filed a lawsuit against the university over his firing.
The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports William H. Featherstone filed the lawsuit last week, saying that university president Brian Hemphill fired him after he questioned Hemphill’s judgment.
Featherstone says Hemphill became aggravated at him for trying to ensure that the school was following recommendations that a state audit had made.
A letter attached to Featherstone’s complaint states that Hemphill wrote on July 31 that Featherstone’s termination came after Hemphill lost confidence in his ability to perform his duties.
Attorney Tom Kleeh, who is representing the university, says school officials stand by Hemphill’s decision to terminate Featherstone. Kleeh says Featherstone demonstrated “unprofessional and inappropriate conduct.”
