Richard Roberts, Oral Roberts University: Forcing Professors to Break the Law?

After reading the Richard Robertslawsuit that names Richard Roberts, Mark Lewandowski, Wendy Shirk, Jeff Ogle, and Oral Roberts University as defendants, I decided to do some research at the good old Internal Revenue Service to see what the law states regarding non-profit 501c3 organizations, churches, and universities and engaging in political events. First however, let me say that after reading the Richard Roberts, OralRoberts University lawsuit, I find that there are many problems with the lawsuit. I am very curious to see if this Richard Roberts, OralRoberts University lawsuit will even hold up, it reads more like a libel suit than a "wrongful terminated" suit, and seems as if it was motivated to inspire rumors, controversy, and disgrace rather than win an actual wrongful termination. The amount of slanderous statements is astounding, and I wonder legally how that will work for the plaintiffs. In fact, one of the plaintiffs, Tim Brooker, admits that he lied to the Internal Revenue Service in his own summation of the lawsuit! There was very little fact regarding the rules surrounding Tim Brooker's terms of employment, as he worked at Oral Roberts University for 7 years, and his wife 3. I was especially amused at the statement referring to how Paulita Brooker was "lured" to her position at ORU. Wow, lured into a position as a professor, how weak willed she must be. Just how, pray tell was she "lured"?

However, back to the lawsuit, Tim Brooker states that in 2005, he engaged in partisan politics with Oral Roberts University students, under the direction of Richard Roberts. Already, I have trouble with this. You see, Tim Brooker, and his wife, Paulita Brooker were the professors over the government program at Oral Roberts University. These professors state that they engaged in illegal practices, that they knew they were illegal, but were intimidated to engage in them anyways. Additionally, there was an IRS investigation in May 2006 regarding the activities, and Tim Brooker admitted to, and was disciplined (by Oral Roberts University regents) for his participation in the activities.

Now he says it was a lie, a cover up, it wasn't his fault, Richard Roberts made him do it, and then after he started complaining about the money that Richard Roberts and his family spend, he was fired.

Fired, two years after he engaged in illegal activities that he was forced to participate in against his will, his knowledge of the law, and against the Biblical and godly principles that he strongly believes in.

However, he is to be trusted, after all he admitted to lying to the IRS in his lawsuit. Interestingly this is all coming out after he was fired, and not during the IRS investigation. He admits that he told Roberts repeatedly that what he was doing was against the law, but that Roberts forced him to do it. However, T Brooker then states that he was disciplined for participating in the partisan political activities. Does that make sense to anyone? Since when does someone force a person to break the law, and then later punish him or her for breaking it?

I would like to know if the IRS fined Tim Brooker and if he is having difficulty paying his fine. His wrongful termination suit talks primarily about money, how much Richard Roberts, Lindsay Roberts, and Oral Roberts University has and how much he thinks he is owed for being fired (roughly $20,000 plus other costs).

Right now, I am more interested in the partisan politics side of the lawsuit, rather than the numerous libel and slanderous accusations made against Richard Roberts, Lindsay Roberts and Oral Roberts University. Which, I would assume if this lawsuit proves those accusations false, they would have ample evidence to report that as a libel document.

I am not a lawyer, but it seems to me that it isn't too difficult to show that Tim Brooker is not a credible person. He admitted that he lied to the IRS, said nothing for one year, until after he was fired, and that he engaged in activities that violated the 501c3 status fully knowing and aware of what he was doing. He states that Richard Roberts forced him to participate, then the regents of the university, punished him for his involvement. Oh yes, let's not forget, they forced him to accept 100% blame for the actions he performed, even though he stated that he knew that they were against the Internal Revenue Service standards for 501c3.

If this turns into a full-blown investigation, I wonder where it will leave Tim Brooker, now that he admits he lied to the Internal Revenue Service.

Important Links:

Read the Lawsuit Online

Some Withholding Judgment on ORU

Richard Roberts Says Lawsuit is About Money

ORU regents call for new audit; Richard Roberts says he pays family's expenses

Official Statement from Richard Roberts

Official Statement from ORU Board of Regents

IRS Document: rr 07-41 Rules Regarding 501 c3 and Political Campaign Intervention

Internal Revenue Service: 501 c3 Exemption Requirements