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TRU settles lawsuit with former VP after dismissal, conduct investigation

A man walks by a university entrance sign on a grass lawn.
FILE PHOTO/iNFOnews.ca

A former university executive in Kamloops has settled a lawsuit with the school over its handling of a workplace investigation.

Thompson Rivers University said the contents of that settlement are confidential, but it helped avoid an upcoming civil trial after the former head of human resources was found to have breached school policy.

Larry Phillips, a former university vice-president, was one of two executives targeted in what was “meant to be a confidential investigation,” according to a TRU news release.

Whistleblowers took their complaints to local reporters while the investigation was ongoing with allegations of racism, bullying and, for Phillips, sexual harassment.

“While Mr. Phillips was ultimately found to have committed some breaches of TRU policy, the more serious allegations which had been publicized in the media were found to be unsubstantiated,” a TRU news release reads.

Phillips, who was fired, took the university to court, claiming the school mishandled the investigation. A trial was initially scheduled for February 2026, then it was postponed to August 2027 before he and the school resolved the lawsuit with a mediator.

According to TRU, the allegations in the investigation were “reported widely and exaggerated,” which caused Phillips “significant reputational harm and mental distress.”

“TRU wishes to express to Mr. Phillips its appreciation for his years of service to TRU,” the news release reads. “TRU also acknowledges that some mistakes were made in its handling of the investigation and Mr. Phillips’ situation which resulted in unfairness to Mr. Phillips and exacerbated the harms suffered by Mr. Phillips and his family.”

The $1 million investigation began in 2021 with 55 complaints against both Phillips and fellow TRU administrator Matt Milovick. Though neither were publicly named, Milovick later issued a statement to say he was “fully exonerated” before filing a defamation lawsuit against the whistleblowers.

It confirmed Phillips, who was already fired from his position, had ten complaints against him substantiated in the investigation. He filed his lawsuit against the university in April 2023.

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Levi Landry

Levi is a recent graduate of the Communications, Culture, & Journalism program at Okanagan College and is now based in Kamloops. After living in the BC for over four years, he finds the blue collar and neighbourly environment in the Thompson reminds him of home in Saskatchewan. Levi, who has previously been published in Kelowna’s Daily Courier, is passionate about stories focussed on both social issues and peoples’ experiences in their local community. If you have a story or tips to share, you can reach Levi at 250 819 3723 or email LLandry@infonews.ca.

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