subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite map
Sat, Nov 07 2009 

Published February 11, 2008 11:38 pm - TULSA, Okla. — An attorney challenged Oral Roberts University Monday to make public an audit of the school’s finances, saying that if school leaders had nothing to hide, they would turn it over.
Last fall, with the evangelical school mired in debt and a spending scandal, ORU’s board of regents ordered an outside firm to conduct the audit. Its contents were never made public.


Attorney calls on ORU to turn over financial audit



The Associated Press

TULSA, Okla. — An attorney challenged Oral Roberts University Monday to make public an audit of the school’s finances, saying that if school leaders had nothing to hide, they would turn it over.

Last fall, with the evangelical school mired in debt and a spending scandal, ORU’s board of regents ordered an outside firm to conduct the audit. Its contents were never made public.

Last week, Tulsa attorney Gary Richardson filed a lawsuit on behalf of Trent Huddleston, a former senior accountant at ORU who alleged that more than $1 billion annually was inappropriately funneled through the school. Named as defendants are Richard Roberts, the school’s former president, and his wife, Lindsay, along with former regents.

University officials dismissed those allegations.

“Why don’t they just turn over the audit?” Richardson asked Monday. “If a reasonable man had information that he believed proved him in the right, wouldn’t they disclose it?”

Mart Green, the Oklahoma City businessman who donated $70 million to the school and became chairman its new board of trustees last month, said Monday he didn’t have access to the report and didn’t know if it could be released publicly.

“We need to get more information from our legal team before we make that decision,” Green said in a statement issued through the university. “Like I said before, the results from the audit our family performed showed we could fully support ORU with our proposed changes.

Richardson questioned whether Green, had truly “seen everything” during the audit.

“I think if ... ORU doesn’t come clean and lay everything before the people to show it is the truth, I think (the lawsuit) is going to create a life of its own,” Richardson said.

Besides the accountant, Richardson is also representing two former ORU professors and two students in lawsuits against the university. The school has settled one lawsuit with a professor, resulting in his reinstatement.

In his lawsuit, Huddleston claimed he discovered an “unrestricted” account used to funnel “unusually large” sums of money through the university each month — which would exceed $1 billion on an annual basis — that wasn’t used for any legitimate university purpose.

Huddleston, who was hired in 2006 and spent 15 months at the school, said he was discharged because school officials feared he would reveal that the account existed.

Huddleston’s lawsuit, the latest to hit the scandal-plagued university, amended a complaint he filed in late November against ORU.

The initial complaint alleged Huddleston was ordered to help Richard and Lindsay Roberts “cook the books” by hiding improper and illegal financial wrongdoing from authorities and the public.



print this story    email this story    comment on this story   

Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.


Add a comment on this story







autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
: Special Offer For New Subscribers : 32 buy 1 get 1 free offers

Click Here!



Featured Jobs

3RD PARTY LOGISTICS COMPANY

Looking for sales people with transportation sales experience, also broker agents. Please send resume to P.O. Box
...>MORE

HIRING HAIR STYLIST
NOW HIRING HAIR STYLIST. Fun and energetic salon. 417-845-0555, Tanya....>MORE

OPIES TRANSPORT
Now Hiring Over the Road Drivers with 2 years experience. 800-341-9963 www.opiestransport.com ...>MORE

PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR
Work along side and direct physically and mentally challenged adults in a work setting. Starts $8.00-$10.00 per hour. Co...>MORE

TELLER
Local credit union has opening for part time teller 25-35 hours per week, experience preferred. Apply in person Joplin M...>MORE

CREDIT ANALYST/LOAN REVIEW
Credit ANALYST/LOAN REVIEW Commercial banking experience required. Send resumes to 3223 Main.Joplin 64804...>MORE

HAIR STYLIST
for Carthage salon.
417-388-2074.
...>MORE

SEEKING MICROSOFT SYSTEMS ANALYST
Seeking Microsoft Systems Analyst. Candidate will assist with presales consulting, primary installation and support of W...>MORE

TRUCK BROKERS
TRUCK BROKERS LANGE LOGISTICS, INC., a 3PL company seeks Account Managers in Joplin. Openings also in Dallas, Nashville ...>MORE

BUSY LAW OFFICE
Seeking experienced secretary. Good typing, computer and secretarial skills required. Position includes both secretarial...>MORE

See all ads

Featured Transportation

1984 SUZUKI SAMURAI
4x4, 4 cylinder, 5 speed, 74,500 miles, 30+ mpg, $3000. (620)856-5807 or 620-762-2155....>MORE

JEEP, 1999 GRAND CHEROKEE,
4x4, automatic, loaded, new tires, $3200. 434-7382....>MORE

1997 NISSAN MAXIMA
Loaded, 98,000 miles, excellent condition, must see, $4500. 417-438-1609....>MORE

1990 FREIGHLINER CAB OVER
set back axle, 400 Cummins, 9 speed over drive, flat top, big sleeper, 10 near new tires, new transmission, new brakes a...>MORE

CHEVROLET, 2004 SILVERADO SS,
all high gloss black paint with full bed cover, 20” chrome wheels, white face gauges, 6.0 liter engine, all wheel drive,...>MORE

2008 HONDA RUCKUS
black, low mileage, $1500. 918-961-8995....>MORE

2001 FORD WINDSTAR
Super sharp, loaded, cold air front and rear, extra clean, $3200. 1317 Schifferdecker, Joplin....>MORE

TOYOTA, 2009 CAMRY LE,
excellent conditon, black/tan, 29,500 miles, bought from Fletcher, warranty, $18,900. 417-793-1613...>MORE

2007 NISSAN MURANO
All wheel drive, 47,000 miles, leather, excellent condition, received a company car and do not need extra vehicle. $17,9...>MORE

2005 CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER
LS, 4X4, 80,000 miles, priced to sell, $9,000 or best offer. 417-529-1957....>MORE

See all ads

Featured Homes

HISTORICAL ROCK FILLING STATION

on Route 66 with lots of updates This solid old building has 1200 sq. ft. on 100x100 lot, on Main Street of Carter
...>MORE

DEERFIELD ESTATES
in Carl Junction, prime building sites, reduced $10,000 each. 417-825-0052...>MORE

819 A STREET
Charming 2 story, 2 bedroom home with a lot of character. Hardwood floors, huge screened porch, central heat and air, co...>MORE

3 BR, 7 YEAR OLD
like new, all electric, 10 minutes to Neosho, 20 minutes to Joplin. No Smoking, No Pets, $700 Month, $350 Deposit. (417)...>MORE

DOWNTOWN JOPLIN

Commercial buildings.
For sale or lease.
For details phone
Bill Martin,
Quality Real Estat
...>MORE

FURNISHED 3 BR
2 ba, 1750 sq. ft. vaulted ceilings, located in S. Joplin, near Shoal Creek, $97,500. Usa Real Estate 417-781-1233....>MORE

GROVE, GRAND LAKE, OK.

Beautiful 2-story 2-kitchen Lake Home with Million $$$ lakefront. Stunning Commercial Building for restaurant or o
...>MORE

BY OWNER REDUCED PRICE!
3 br, 2 ba, 1840 sq. ft., remodeled, all new interior, new roof, $79,900. 436 N. Wall, Joplin. 240-432-8336....>MORE

2 BR CENTRAL HEAT/AIR,
gar, $475/$300 appliances 4117 S Pennsylvania 417-389-6737...>MORE

2 BR, 9523 HIGHWAY NN
$450/$400; 417-592-2088....>MORE

See all ads

Other Cool Stuff

YORKIE, POMERANIAN AND SILKY PUPPIES
wanting forever homes. Well socialized. Prices $75-$300. Early Christmas presents (417)652-7510, leave message. ...>MORE

14 WEEK-10 WEEK OLD MORKIE
males, $200. Papillion females, $200. 417-548-2433....>MORE

CHIHUAHUAS
Chorkies, WaPoos, Shih-Tzus, just in time for Christmas. $85 to $250. Registered and shots 417-438-6057...>MORE

1950S CAVALIER COKE MACHINE
in working order, $350. (417)782-2751....>MORE

COUCH
full size, with pillows, light pastel colors, lavender and blue, no cats, no dogs, no kids, $150 or offer. 624-2197....>MORE

BOW FLEX EXTREME HOME GYM

(417)438-9041
...>MORE

CHEAP PUPPIES
Border Terriers, Dachshunds, Italian Greyhound, Lhasas, Morkies, Norwich Terriers, Shih-Tzus, Standard Poodles (chocolat...>MORE

KENNELL REDUCTION
Chihuahua’s and French Bulldog’s, AKC, pups to young adults, very nice, Chihuahua’s $100/up, Frenchis, $900/up. (417)394...>MORE

COFFEE, END AND ENTRY TABLE
coffee, end and entry tables, Nordic Track Walk Fit, sewing machine desk, (417)206-4958....>MORE

2 CREMATION NICHES
2 CREMATION NICHES Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery, moving must sell quick. Call Carolyn, (417)624-3017....>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index

 

 

The Joplin Globe Electronic Edition