Posted 10:42 a.m., updated 5:08 p.m. Aug. 18, 2004.
AU asked the D.C. Superior Court to reject former WAMU Director Susan Clampitt's $12 million wrongful termination lawsuit, the Washington Times reported today.
Clampitt filed the lawsuit against the University and President Benjamin Ladner on June 30, eight months after she was fired due to low morale and financial problems at WAMU-FM 88.5, the AU-owned National Public Radio affiliate.
Ladner approved her financial plans and, therefore, is partly to blame for the WAMU problems, Clampitt said in her complaint. However, according to a response filed by AU attorneys July 27, Clampitt was fired based on "legitimate business factors," the Washington Times reported.
"We deny all the allegations in this," AU Director of Media Relations Todd Sedmak told The Eagle.
In the meantime, David Taylor, Ladner's chief of staff, has been managing WAMU. An interview committee is currently going through resumes to find a new director, according to Sedmak.
"A search has been going on; people are being pursued," Sedmak said. "The key thing is looking for the best candidate. The desire is to have someone yesterday, but that's life."
-ANNE GODLASKY and PHIL TURNER
Read the links below for more information on WAMU and the lawsuit.
