Ex-UNH planner sues university system

Victor Azzi, the former campus planner for the University System of New Hampshire, has filed a lawsuit against the University of New Hampshire and USNH claiming he was unfairly fired from his position in 2001.

Azzi’s suit, filed in Rockingham County Superior Court on June 25, accuses the university of breach of contract, wrongful discharge and violation of free speech rights.

The court filing states that wrongdoings occurred when the university failed to negotiate an extension of Azzi’s contract, which ended on June 30, 2001. Azzi claims that UNH was getting back at him for “speaking out” against the university.

The Portsmouth Herald reported that the court filing claims Azzi’s position as associate vice president of campus planning and real property was eliminated in 1996. After a period of legal negotiations, Azzi was named campus planner for a term that ended in June 2001, “unless the parties agree to extend your appointment beyond June 30, 2001.”

Azzi also claims he was ordered to start work on the school’s Whittemore Center, even though university officials knew the project was $1 million over budget. He also criticized the bidding process for several buildings.