Former University of Kentucky Professor & Auditor Files Whistleblower Suit

By Aaron Poehler

Published on November 15, 2007

According to the suit, filed under the Kentucky Whistleblower Protection Act in Fayette Circuit Court, Ross discovered numerous discrepancies and potential problems including suspected mismanagement, waste, fraud and other legal violations during a review of the school’s checking and credit card accounts, the UK’s Auxiliary Services Stores and Computers Stores, and the university’s Bucks For Brains/Research Challenge Trust Fund. Although Ross reported his findings to Joseph Reed, the director of the university’s Internal Audit Department, Reed took no action, leading Ross to direct his concerns to UK's executive vice president of finance and administration.

Ross alleges that at this point, his job was threatened by UK officials retaliating against him for reporting his findings. He went on to alert the UK Board of Trustees, the office of the Kentucky State Auditor, and others outside the school of his concerns. Ross was subsequently suspended without pay and later fired from his job; insubordination was cited as the reason for the firing.

Ross's suit, which names both Reed and the university as defendants, seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages along with a jury trial.