A jury has ruled in favor of former Piedmont College biology professor Dr. Robert Wainberg, awarding him $615,000 in his wrongful termination case against the institution. The verdict closes a major chapter in a years-long dispute that centered on claims of retaliation, breach of contract, and bad faith.
Wainberg, who taught at Piedmont from 1988 until his dismissal in 2018, argued that the college retaliated against him for speaking out against what he described as “the administration’s violations of academic integrity.” He alleged the school denied him the protections guaranteed by tenure, fired him before he was questioned, and withheld exculpatory evidence — including student testimony in his favor — from the Board that upheld his dismissal.
7 years of litigation
In his complaint, Wainberg also claimed Piedmont officials engaged in secret, closed-door conversations with the Board during his hearing, leaving him outside without the chance to respond. The loss of his job, income, and health insurance, his attorneys argued, created financial hardship and put his health at risk while dealing with a serious illness.
The 576-page lawsuit filed in Habersham County Superior Court in August 2018 claims Piedmont administrators “encouraged a disgruntled student” to file a Title IX sexual harassment complaint against Wainberg. It was a claim he steadfastly denied throughout the proceedings, which eventually wound up in federal court.
During court proceedings on Friday, August 29, Judge Mark Cohen denied defense motions to dismiss the bad faith claim and limit damages. Jurors deliberated before siding with Wainberg, opening the door for his legal team to petition the court for $2 million in attorneys’ fees.
“The jury’s verdict was a resounding rebuke to Piedmont University’s bad faith actions against Dr. Wainberg by retaliating against him for speaking truth to power,” said Wainberg’s lead attorney Julie Oinonen. “We are grateful for the opportunity to have cleared Dr. Wainberg’s good name after his thirty years of dedicated service to the institution.”
Another lawsuit still pending
Piedmont’s attorneys did not immediately respond to Now Habersham’s requests for comment. However, university president Marshall Criser issued this statement:
“At Piedmont University, the safety and well-being of our students will always be our top priority. We believe every student should feel safe, supported, and confident that their concerns will be heard. We would rather err on the side of caution than risk overlooking something important. That means taking concerns seriously, acting promptly, and ensuring the right resources are in place to provide support and resolution.”
Oinonen confirmed her client will submit the attorney fee petition within the next 30 days.
There is still another lawsuit pending against Piedmont’s former president, Dr. James Mellichamp, and several members of the university’s Board of Trustees for allegedly conspiring to violate Wainberg’s civil rights.
“We hope that Piedmont will come to the table and agree to mediate in order to fairly resolve this final dispute,” she told Now Habersham. Speaking on her client’s behalf, Oinonen added, “Dr. Wainberg thanks the many courageous former colleagues and students who showed integrity by courageously testifying truthfully on his behalf.”
Piedmont University has not said whether it will appeal.
