Former University of Idaho assistant professor Sanjay Gupta filed suit Oct. 17 against the university for wrongful termination.
According to court records, Gupta was fired from the university in 2012 based on allegations of sexual harassment by another UI employee.
UI spokeswoman Karen Hunt said university officials do not comment on pending litigation.
The university hired Gupta in 2008. According to Nick Gier, president of the Idaho Federation of Teachers, Gupta worked at the Kimberly Research Station near Idaho Falls and specialized in potato research.
Gier has worked closely with Gupta for more than a year to assist him in the case.
Gupta hired a research assistant in May 2011, and according to the court documents Gupta allegedly found out soon after she was hired that the experience listed on her resume was false.
According to the documents Gupta worked with the assistant to help her gain the appropriate skills.
The records allege that in the days prior to the assistant’s 90-day evaluation, she was aware she was at risk to lose her job and as a result made a complaint of sexual harassment to Gupta’s supervisor, according to the records.
A formal investigation was then conducted by the university that concluded Gupta had sexually harassed and threatened the assistant, according to the documents. The investigation resulted in a recommendation for Gupta’s dismissal.
The court records allege the investigation was not conducted properly and that Gupta was not granted appropriate due process throughout the investigation and dismissal hearings.
The suit brought forth by Gupta and his wife claims wrongful termination based on false accusations of sexual harassment and loss of intellectual property, according to the court documents.
Because Gupta was dismissed from the university, any research he conducted or grant money he brought in was no longer his own and could not be continued according to the documents.
The couple is seeking compensation for financial damages caused by his termination — including back pay, litigation costs, lost health and retirement benefits and compensation for the emotional distress of Gupta and his wife, according to the documents.
April M. Linscott, an attorney from Hayden, Idaho, is representing Gupta and his wife in the case. Federal Judge B. Lynn Winmill has been assigned to the case. No court hearings have been scheduled at this time.
Kaitlyn Krasselt can be reached at [email protected]