Former Cumberlands President files lawsuit against university over pay

Former University of the Cumberlands President Dr. James Taylor and his wife, Dinah, have filed a federal lawsuit against the university claiming school officials have gone back on an agreement to continue to pay his full salary and benefits for the rest of his life.

In the lawsuit filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court, the Taylors claim that the university’s trustees approved the agreement following a closed-door meeting in 2005, which amounted to at least $395,000, annually in salary and benefits.

According to the complaint the deal was put into Taylor’s contract in 2012. Taylor retired, from the university in October 2015 but retains the title of chancellor.

University officials said in a statement Wednesday that officials have been attempting to work out a settlement with the Taylors, who now reside in Florida, but added they could not justify the amount the Taylors are demanding.

“The university could not agree to use student’s tuition payments and the faithful support from its donors in such an irresponsible manner,” officials said in the statement.