A former faculty member is taking legal action against a community college, alleging wrongful termination and discrimination. Dr. R. Cary Capparelli filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on December 4, 2024, accusing Oakton Community College and its officials of multiple violations, including retaliation and discrimination.
The case revolves around Dr. Capparelli's claims that Oakton Community College engaged in unethical practices such as inflating student grades to secure funding fraudulently. According to the complaint, Dr. Capparelli was offered a teaching position for Fall 2022 under conditions that violated seniority policies, which he declined. He alleges that his refusal to comply with these unethical directives led to his termination and subsequent blacklisting from future employment opportunities at the college.
Dr. Capparelli contends that his actions were protected under the First Amendment as he was speaking out against unlawful activities within the institution. He also asserts that his race and gender played a role in the adverse treatment he received from college administrators, claiming discriminatory practices were evident during meetings and investigations into his complaints.
The lawsuit accuses Oakton Community College of violating several laws, including the Illinois False Claims Act and Federal False Claims Act by misrepresenting academic performance for financial gain. Furthermore, it highlights breaches of procedural due process under the Fourteenth Amendment when Dr. Capparelli was not afforded proper hearings before or after his termination.
Dr. Capparelli seeks reinstatement to his previous position or an equivalent role with back pay and compensatory damages for emotional distress caused by what he describes as retaliatory discharge and intentional infliction of emotional distress by Oakton Community College's administration.
Represented by attorney Frank Avila, Dr. Capparelli is demanding punitive damages along with an injunction preventing further unlawful conduct by the college's officials. The case has been assigned Case ID 1:24-cv-12462 but does not list specific judges overseeing it at this time.