Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley
BOSTON – The Office of Attorney General Martha Coakley announced yesterday that she has filed a lawsuit against former Westfield State University President Dr. Evan S. Dobelle over allegations that he misused university credit cards and funds to the tune of nearly $100,000 for personal purchases and vacations.
A recent report by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) Glenn Cunha stated that those vacations – including family trips with his wife Kit and son Harry and gatherings in Monte Rio, California at the Bohemian Club, a private men’s social club – cost the university more than $39,000.
According to the complaint, filed yesterday in Suffolk Superior Court, Dobelle, whose tenure as WSU president lasted from January 2008 until his resignation in November 2013, knowingly submitted to WSU false claims for payment of personal expenses totaling at least $59,000.
The aforementioned actions are in violation of the state’s False Claims Act and conflict of interest law, as well as Dobelle’s employment contract and several university policies.
“We allege the former president of this university blatantly misused public funds for trips that were nothing but weeklong vacations with family and friends,” said Coakley in a statement. “This pattern of inappropriately spending state money is unacceptable, as leaders of public schools should be enforcing their policies instead of knowingly violating them for their own personal benefit.”
Since last fall, the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has been investigating allegations of improper spending by Dobelle, following an initial OIG report.
Former Westfield State University President Evan Dobelle leaves the university in October. (File photo by Frederick Gore)
The AGO suit alleges Dobelle knew his spending behavior was prohibited under university policy, and was reminded on several occasions to restrict his school credit card use to university-related expenses.
The complaint states that within five months of signing the university’s “Policy for a College Credit Card” form, Dobelle was making exorbitant charges for meals at restaurants such as The Slanted Door in San Francisco, The Palm and Bistrot du Coin in Washington D.C., and Rouge Restaurant in Stockbridge.
A statement from the AGO said that, while Dobelle “appears to have reimbursed personal expenses”, he often submitted his reimbursements months late and used backdated checks to make the repayments appear timely.
The complaint also alleges that Dobelle lied about the purpose of at least 16 travel requests, claiming thet the trips were for conferences, fundraising, and meeting with alumni, and utilized WSU staff to research fares and travel times and to purchase the tickets.
It has been confirmed that these trips – including aforementioned trips California and to Cuba – cost the university more than $39,000.
The suit claims that during his tenure at the university, Dobelle’s contract paid him $200,000 annually, granted him either an automobile allowance of $600 per month or use of an automobile provided by the school, a onetime moving allowance to cover relocation costs, and an annual housing allowance of $18,000.
The AGO’s lawsuit seeks damages, civil penalties, costs and attorney’s fees associated with the office’s ongoing investigation, and the costs of the OIG’s investigation.
When asked about the university’s take on the lawsuit, WSU spokesperson Molly Watson, declined comment.
John Flynn III, former chairman of the University’s Board of Trustees and current Chair Elizabeth Scheibel could not be reached for comment.
Current Chairman of the Board’s Finance Committee Kevin Queenin chose not to comment on the Attorney General’s suit, citing a seperate suit filed by Dobelle against himself and several current and former members of the Board of Trustees, as well as Commissioner of the state’s Board of Higher Education Richard Freeland, in December.
In the statement released yesterday, the AGO’s lawsuit said it “does not foreclose the potential for additional action.”
In a prepared statement, Dobelle’s Attorney H. Ross Garber said that the lawsuit is “not surprising” given that she (Coakley) has “been presented with only limited facts and a one-sided version of story.”
“Her staff did not ask for Dr. Dobelle’s perspective,” said Garber in the statement. “In court, however, both sides are heard, and decisions are based on evidence, not innuendo and conjecture.”
Garber added that there are federal and state cases pending against high-ranking Massachusetts officials and Westfield State University relating to their “conduct in this matter”, and a federal judge has already ruled against the Attorney General’s office on a motion to dismiss.
“Dr. Dobelle looks forward to a full and fair airing of the truth and to reclaiming his reputation,” the statement concluded.
