Meyer and SLU settle
Agreement brings legal battle between professor and University to a close, unless school chooses to appeal
Jonathan Ernst
Issue date: 3/19/09 Section: News
The 18-month legal struggle between Saint Louis University and tenured communication professor Avis Meyer concluded on Monday, March 2 with a settlement approved by a federal judge.
As a part of the settlement, Meyer has agreed to teach one summer school class without compensation-the equivalent of $6,000.
"This was a long ordeal and I am glad it is over," Meyer said. "I think this could have been settled much more amiably and much earlier, but that's not the way it happened."
Meyer has served as The University News' adviser and is currently recognized by the staff as its faculty mentor.
Judge Carol Jackson ordered Meyer to somehow compensate SLU due to the University's complaints over his destruction of e-mails regarding the case.
"The University clearly sees the judgment by the court as a victory," University spokesman Jeff Fowler said.
The University believes the first six counts against Meyer would have held up if those e-mails hadn't been deleted.
"The judge was upset that Dr. Meyer destroyed evidence in the case," Fowler said. "We feel the six counts were dismissed because he deleted the e-mail evidence."
According to Fowler, no decision has been made as to whether the University will appeal the dismissal of the first six counts. Additional sanctions may take place over the deletion of e-mail evidence.
After more than five hours of discussion between the two sides, an agreement was made that Meyer would teach one summer school class with no pay.
The University also demanded that Meyer's wife sign a document stating that she would pay $6,000 to the University if Meyer were unable to teach the class.
"I was amazed that they asked my wife, a fourth grade school teacher at a Catholic school, to sign a document saying if something happens to me she owes Saint Louis U. six grand," Meyer said.
As part of the settlement, Meyer continues to be banned from visiting The University News office on the third floor of the Busch Student Center.
As a part of the settlement, Meyer has agreed to teach one summer school class without compensation-the equivalent of $6,000.
"This was a long ordeal and I am glad it is over," Meyer said. "I think this could have been settled much more amiably and much earlier, but that's not the way it happened."
Meyer has served as The University News' adviser and is currently recognized by the staff as its faculty mentor.
Judge Carol Jackson ordered Meyer to somehow compensate SLU due to the University's complaints over his destruction of e-mails regarding the case.
"The University clearly sees the judgment by the court as a victory," University spokesman Jeff Fowler said.
The University believes the first six counts against Meyer would have held up if those e-mails hadn't been deleted.
"The judge was upset that Dr. Meyer destroyed evidence in the case," Fowler said. "We feel the six counts were dismissed because he deleted the e-mail evidence."
According to Fowler, no decision has been made as to whether the University will appeal the dismissal of the first six counts. Additional sanctions may take place over the deletion of e-mail evidence.
After more than five hours of discussion between the two sides, an agreement was made that Meyer would teach one summer school class with no pay.
The University also demanded that Meyer's wife sign a document stating that she would pay $6,000 to the University if Meyer were unable to teach the class.
"I was amazed that they asked my wife, a fourth grade school teacher at a Catholic school, to sign a document saying if something happens to me she owes Saint Louis U. six grand," Meyer said.
As part of the settlement, Meyer continues to be banned from visiting The University News office on the third floor of the Busch Student Center.
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