LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) – Purdue University spent more than $320,000 in legal fees battling state and federal lawsuits filed by the former chancellor of Indiana University Purdue University.

 

Former Chancellor Michael Wartell alleged he'd been discriminated against after Purdue's board of trustees declined to extend his contract past retirement age. The then 65-year-old Wartell was ousted in 2011 and replaced with 64-year-old Vicky Carwein.

 

According to records,Purdue spent $161,812, beginning in July 2012, in a state open records lawsuit and $168,312, beginning in April 2013, for defense in a federal lawsuit.

 

Much of those fees were spent battling court orders to release an independent investigation by attorney John Trimble that found Purdue could have handled the forced retirement better.