More pre-trial conferences are expected as a lawsuit filed by a former TRU student alleging school officials destroyed his academic career lumbers its way to court.
Adrian Miller is suing Thompson Rivers University, former TRU president Roger Barnsley and several instructors, professors or senior administrative employees.
The 24-year-old man, who says he is disabled by virtue of some health problems he suffers, alleges TRU treated him unfairly when he attended classes in 2007 and 2008.
"This is a complaint about harassment, discrimination and retaliation perpetrated by senior employees of TRU whose patently false and perverted belief that they are above the law is matched only by their ridiculous belief that discriminating against a disabled, financially indigent person will go unchallenged, unchecked and unpunished," Miller wrote in his statement of claim, filed in March 2010.
Miller wants the school to pay him $250,000 in damages.
The parties met in B.C. Supreme Court this week to map out the progress of the lawsuit. More such conferences are expected as the case slowly proceeds. The case is back in court March 28.
Miller, who is representing himself in the court action, has already filed voluminous amounts of material, including affidavits and responses.
His 39-page statement of claim outlines what he says was discrimination by various instructors or professors related to his frequent absences from classes and missed assignments caused by his medical problems.
As a result of his absences and missed assignments, Miller did not complete most of the courses he registered for at TRU and, as a result, found himself in contravention of student loan provisions.
He says he was later denied further student aid or loans as a result of the events of 2007 and 2008. Miller claims he was "illegally deregistered" from courses at TRU and his efforts to have his problems resolved were met with discrimination and "vicious retaliation."
"The individuals . . . destroyed a promising academic career, future successes and a previously happy life," Miller says in his legal documents.
TRU denies all of Miller's allegations. The case is expected to reach trial in B.C. Supreme Court in 2012.
