Whistle-blower in court to seek reinstatement
From Nature 453, 145 (8 May2008):
A researcher who blew the whistle over animal-rights issues at the University of Nevada in Reno went to court last week to try to win his job back after being fired.
Nutrition researcher Hussein Hussein, a tenured professor, was sacked last month by university president Milton Glick, despite a recommendation by a university administrative hearing that he merely be reprimanded or demoted. Four years ago, Hussein reported deficiencies in the care of laboratory animals that led to US$11,400 in fines against the university. He claims the university sought to fire him in retaliation.
After the administrative hearing, he was cleared of charges of plagiarizing graduate student work, but found to have incorrectly reported on $377,000 in grants, thus denying the university overhead costs.
Hussein's lawyer asked a Nevada judge to reinstate him, arguing that he was improperly fired. A spokeswoman says the university acted appropriately, and will vigorously defend its actions.