Clark Atlanta University has agreed to pay $5 million to settle a federal
whistleblower, or qui tam, suit, brought by Dr. August Curley.
“The lawsuit alleged that Clark Atlanta, acting as manager of a Consortium that included itself and sixteen other universities, received and retained approximately $24 million under a Cooperative Agreement that Clark Atlanta had with the Department of Energy.” http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/gan/press/2006/04-14-06.pdf Dr. Curley was hired by Clark Atlanta as Program Manager for the Consortium in 1995.
“The Consortium was created in 1990 to meet the Department of Energy’s anticipated needs for a workforce of scientists and engineers trained in environmental technology, environmental restoration, environmental health and waste management. The complaint alleged that under the terms of the Cooperative Agreement, Clark Atlanta was to use the funds for very specific purposes designed to further the goal of training a minority workforce in environmental sciences, but that Clark Atlanta did not in fact use the funds for those purposes.” http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/gan/press/2006/04-14-06.pdf
Clark Atlanta also agreed to enter into a Compliance Agreement designed to ensure that future federal funds will be managed appropriately.
Dr. Curley received 22% of the $5 million, or $1.1 million. “The remaining $3.9 million, plus interest, will be paid to the United States in installments over five years.” http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/gan/press/2006/04-14-06.pdf
