Lincoln University lawsuit: Judge orders compliance with foundation
Lincoln University officials must work with the nonprofit formerly known as the Lincoln University Foundation when spending more than $600,000 that was at the center of a lawsuit, according to a lawyer for the foundation.
The money is one of several pieces of property the foundation said is being wrongfully withheld by the LU Board of Curators. The two groups abruptly ended their decadeslong relationship in February.
The order issued by Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green said the university must spend the $667,173 as originally intended by the foundation. The money, largely from donations, was earmarked by the foundation for various university programs.
If there is an issue with spending, a judge could step in to settle any disagreement, according to Gabriel Gore, an attorney for the foundation.
The LU Board of Curators asked the court to dismiss the case, which is still under consideration by the court.
When the university severed ties with the nonprofit, which was the Lincoln University Foundation at the time, the university ordered it to no longer use any image or name associated with the LU.
The nonprofit changed its name to the 62nd & 65th Regiments Legacy Foundation. Despite the name change, the university claims the organization is still wrongfully using the school’s likeness in a federal lawsuit filed in June.
In the suit, the university asks the court, in part, to order the foundation to turn over more than $4 million in funds.
