Citing concerns of possible retaliation, Piedmont University's faculty leaders want trustees to remove the president and his spouse while allegations of misconduct are investigated.
Demorest mayor sues Piedmont president, trustees for alleged conspiracy
Demorest mayor sues Piedmont president, trustees for alleged conspiracy
Demorest Mayor Rick Austin is suing the top leadership of Piedmont University for alleged conspiracy. Austin claims Piedmont president Dr. James Mellichamp and members of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees unlawfully conspired to remove him from his position as a tenured biology professor at the school and his elected position as mayor of Demorest in retaliation for an affidavit he submitted in a former colleague’s wrongful termination lawsuit.
Austin’s attorney, Matthew Billips, of Atlanta, filed the lawsuit last week in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. The suit states that, since that subpoenaed testimony and affidavit, Austin has been subjected “to numerous retaliatory acts by Piedmont College, Dr. James Mellichamp, the officers of Piedmont College, and others associated with, or employed