The former sports information director at Humboldt State University (HSU) has reached a settlement with the university over his lawsuit, which alleged that athletic department officials used scholarship and state taxpayer funds to pay for lavish trips, including two Alaska fishing trips in 2012 and 2013 with former University President Rollin Richmond, alumni, and boosters.
In a statement, the university noted that the settlement “ends a time-consuming distraction,” adding that it “was confident and prepared to go to trial over these remaining matters. But the proposed settlement provided a less expensive alternative.”
Further, it “reinforces the university’s position that the allegations in the lawsuit are without merit. It also supports the results of many years of annual audits of Athletics.”
Dan Pambianco’s lawsuit, which was filed in April 2014, alleged that he was forced to transfer from the university’s athletics department in January 2014 after filing a complaint against Athletic Director Dan Collen and the HSU Athletics Department Associate Director of External Affairs Tom Trepiak. Specifically, he claimed that Collen and Trepiak misused scholarship and state taxpayer funds, starting in 2001, to pay for “lavish” trips.
He also alleged that he was discriminated against because of his age, and that they retaliated against him with the transfer to a new position, which provided fewer benefits, no vacation pay, and denial of funds to train new employees.
In response to the lawsuit and the complaint to the state auditor, the university enlisted an auditing firm to examine the allegations. It determined the department’s budgeting process has been “generally strong,” writing that scholarship and athletic department funds were “monitored appropriately.”
Pambianco told the media after the university issued its statement about the settlement that he wanted to settle for $5,000 because he wanted to reduce the stress of litigation and he didn’t feel like he could match the resources of the California State University System. However, Pambianco said he hopes to be a “magnet for others on campus who were similarly unhappy about the pervasive bullying and discriminatory processes.”
Going forward, he said he hopes others will take a closer look at management’s activities. He personally plans to file more Public Records Act requests to monitor the Athletic Department’s fundraising efforts, he said.
