Ex-Oral Roberts Profs Request $2.5M in Demand Letter

Two former professors at Oral Roberts University are seeking $2.5 million to settle their lawsuit contending they were forced to leave after exposing financial wrongdoing.

The lawsuit contends university president Richard Roberts used school money to remodel his family home 11 times in 14 years, pay for his daughter’s $29,000 senior trip, and provide a white Lexus SUV and a red Mercedes convertible for his wife.

Roberts, the son of university founder Oral Roberts, has said the lawsuit is “about intimidation, blackmail and extortion.” He resigned in November.

The Associated Press reported that the school asked the professors how much they would accept as a settlement. Lawyers responded they would seek $1.5 million for Tim Brooker and $1 million for Paulita Brooker. A third professor, John Swails, has already settled for an undisclosed amount.