Amended $60 million dollar lawsuit brings back all defendants
That portion of a $60 million dollar lawsuit against Yavapai Community College and two other defendants brought by its former Director of Aviation in 2012, which was dismissed last month in Federal District Court, has essentially been reinstated with the filing of an amended complaint. Guidance Aviation, a corporate defendant, and its CEO, John Stonecipher, were dismissed on summary judgment from the case last month while Yavapai College remained a defendant. They are now apparently back in the lawsuit.
The former College Director of Aviation, Daniel Hamilton, alleges that he repeatedly warned college officials and Guidance Aviation “that they were violating VA regulations and that they were defrauding VA.” Hamilton also claims he urged Yavapai College to distance itself from Guidance, however, “In response, Yavapai College fired” him.
Hamilton alleges that the College violated the 85/15 rule, which states that no more than 85 percent of the students enrolled in the program can be funded by the VA or the school. Hamilton also alleges that he was wrongfully terminated and is seeking damages as a whistleblower.
In his amended complaint, Hamilton provides details including names of students, dates, and times. He also alleges that Guidance Aviation’s attorney emailed the College lawyer, saying that Hamilton was an insurance liability and could cause the school’s policy to become void. This he claims was pressure being put on the College that resulted in his firing.
Mr. Hamilton is a professional aviator, a veteran and a decorated former F-16 fighter pilot who served as a captain in the U.S. Air Force from 1997 to 2007. He started his job with Yavapai College on Sept. 6, 2011, and was terminated around May 31, 2012.
For more information, please read the Daily Courier story by Scott Orr that can be reached by clicking here.