Georgia Tech Under Fire: Whistleblower Lawsuit Alleges Misappropriation of University Funds

ATLANTA – A former employee at Georgia Tech has sued the university, alleging that he faced punishment for exposing financial mismanagement.

Keith Werle, who worked as the managing director of the Business Analytics Center, claims he discovered serious issues regarding the center’s funds. In his lawsuit against the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, he asserts he found unauthorized charges and strange transfers from the center’s accounts, affecting payments to his staff and graduate assistants.

Werle believes that over $250,000 was mishandled during his first four years on the job. He identified charges that seemed intended to cover up financial discrepancies just before the end of the fiscal year.

When he tried to raise these concerns, he reportedly received a reprimand for “unprofessional” behavior. His lawsuit argues that rather than addressing the mismanagement he reported, the university retaliated against him because he was outspoken about the problems.

In September 2023, after an audit, Georgia Tech put Werle on administrative leave, leading to a recommendation for his termination. His lawsuit states that his firing was directly linked to his complaints about financial irregularities and violations of laws.

This situation unfolds after the Department of Justice had already sued Georgia Tech for failing to comply with cybersecurity standards on certain contracts. Two former members of the university’s cybersecurity team also filed a whistleblower lawsuit, highlighting issues similar to Werle’s.

Werle is seeking a jury trial and compensation for damages related to his dismissal, including legal fees.

Sources for this story include Keith Werle’s lawsuit and prior reporting from FOX 5.

Source link

Organization,Georgia Tech,News