Thompson Rivers University

(BRENDAN KERGIN / iNFOnews.ca)

Whistleblowers accused of defaming a Thompson Rivers University executive have raised more than $11,000 so far to pay for their legal defence.

Matt Milovick, the university's vice president of administration and finance, launched the law suit against them earlier this month after his name was cleared in a months-long workplace misconduct investigation.

The whistleblowers claimed Milovick and former vice president of human resources Larry Phillips harassed and were discriminatory to other university employees.

Former TRU human resources director Amanda Ellison, one of the eight people named in court document, started the online fundraiser yesterday, Feb. 13, to raise money their legal fees.

READ MORE: TRU vice-president 'exonerated' after misconduct investigation

"We were all complainants in a TRU investigation of alleged workplace misconduct. We participated in the investigation in good faith, and in the hopes of creating a better university. After the investigation concluded in January, a defamation suit was filed against us by one of the respondents. We deny all of the allegations in this suit," Ellison said in the online fundraiser.

So far, more than $11,000 has been donated with an ultimate goal of $100,000.

"The investigation has severely impacted all of us and this new phase multiplies the risk, stress and costs each of us must now carry. We understand that defending a legal action like this can be extremely expensive," Ellison said.

READ MORE: One of two TRU executives absolved of misconduct complaints

Milovick's notice of claim was filed in B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver on Feb. 8. He's seeking unspecified damages for defamation, claiming the ongoing media coverage and comments from his accusers damaged his reputation.

None of the claims against him were substantiated in the $1 million investigation.

Along with the current and former employees named in his claim, it also includes 11 anonymous accusers and an unspecified number of whistleblowers who acted in "solidarity" with them.

The eight people may also be among those anonymous accusers and whistleblowers, according to court documents, but some maintained their anonymity through the investigation process.

READ MORE: 'Ready for justice': Judgement coming for Jessie Simpson civil dispute

The harassment and discrimination accusations began on Feb. 8, 2021, with an email to the university's board of directors and nine deans. The email didn't include specific examples and accused Phillips and Milovick of bullying along with sexual, racial and ageist harassment and discrimination.

"The vague unparticularized condemnations are conclusions unsupported by fact or example which are false and defamatory," Milovick's claim read.

Along with Ellison, the claim names former employees Lucille Gnanasihamany, Jim Gudjonson, Stacey Jrykkanen, Meaghan Hagerty, Deanne Brkovich and Laura Cooke as defendants. It also names current employee and associate professor of law Charis Kamphuis, who is currently on leave.

The defendants have yet to responded in court to Milovick's claim and none of the allegations have been proven in court.

The online fundraiser can be found here.

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