Hutchinson ? Former Barton County Community College President Veldon Law says in a lawsuit that he was fired for pointing out problems in the school’s work-study program.

In a lawsuit filed Tuesday against the school and its board, Law also said he was defamed by the school’s Board of Trustees and that his firing was a breach of contract. He also said he is owed back wages and compensation.

Law, who now lives in Las Vegas, is seeking more than $75,000 in the lawsuit against Board of Trustees members Robert Feldt, Michael Johnson, Donald Learned, Paul Maneth and Judy Murphy, who he sued individually and in their official capacities as board members.

Law sued the sixth board member, J.B. Webster, only in his official capacity. Webster was the only trustee to vote against firing Law on July 19, 2005.

A scandal led to charges against seven Barton County coaches and the athletic director amid allegations that coaches prepared falsified federal work-study time cards, allowing students to be paid for hours they never worked.

On Wednesday, former men’s and women’s track and field coach Lance Brauman was convicted on five felony charges stemming from the scheme.

In the lawsuit, Law claims that when he began looking into problems with the school’s work-study program, the board advised him not to report violations to federal authorities. However, he told the college’s attorney, Randy Henry, to report the violations to appropriate authorities.

Law said in the lawsuit that his firing was in retaliation for ignoring the board’s advice.

When he was fired, three college employees had been indicted. According to the lawsuit, the board said it fired Law for cause because he allowed unlawful practices that violated business and professional ethics.

But Law said the board didn’t notify him in writing, which is an element of a for-cause firing. If he were fired without cause, the school would owe Law a severance package including six months of salary and benefits. Law also contends he did not get a hearing either before or after he was fired.

Henry said Friday that none of the defendants named in the lawsuit had been served yet, and no comments would be made except in an answer to the lawsuit that will be filed in U.S. District Court in Wichita.

Former athletic director Neil Elliott’s trial on charges stemming from the scandal is scheduled to begin July 25.

Of the six other defendants, former assistant basketball coach Matthew B. Skillman and former basketball coach David Campbell are serving probation after entering pleas. Four others – former basketball coach Ryan Wolf, former assistant basketball coach Shane Hawkins, former track coach Lyles Lashley and former basketball coach Ryan Cross – await sentencing.