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Published: 2013-01-15 16:03:00
Updated: 2013-01-15 16:03:00

Judge dismisses convicted UNC professor's lawsuit


Paul Frampton, a physics and astronomy professor at UNC
Paul Frampton, a physics and astronomy professor at UNC
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A Superior Court judge has dismissed a lawsuit against the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill by a professor serving out a drug sentence in Argentina.

Paul Frampton, a physics and astronomy professor, is under house arrest in Argentina. He was convicted in November after authorities there found drugs in his suitcase.

Frampton sued UNC because it stopped paying his salary. He claimed that he has continued to teach his graduate students and work on his research and should be paid.

Judge Robert Hobgood dismissed the suit Monday, saying it was premature. Attorneys for the state argued that Frampton is in the middle of a grievance proceeding at the university and hasn't yet exhausted his rights there.

Frampton's advocates in Chapel Hill say he made a mistake regarding the drugs, thinking he was helping a friend. Friends, students, his ex-wife and Congressman David Price have rallied behind him.


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A "professor" is in jail/prison in a foreign country on a different continent than the University at which he works? And he, and some of his professor colleagues, insist that even under those circumstances and conditions he is able to "teach" his students, conduct his research, and publish that research to a level that would justify his continued employment, full pay, and full benefits? It is little wonder that everyone - from the "average Jane/Joe" to very intelligent people - have an image of college professors as "pointy-headed" intellectuals who have not one ounce of "common-sense"!!!

This "professor" gets busted for importing drugs into a foreign country, but wants the NC taxpayers to continue paying his salary. He is under arrest but claims he is still "working"?

And fellow drug addled liberal proff David Price supports his claims against the taxpaying citizens of NC?

The arrogance of those feeding off the state university system trough is amazing....

If he is sitting behind bars in Argentina, how is he still able to teach his students in Chapel Hill?

You gotta be kidding. This fool carries drugs, gets caught, is put under arrest, and david price backs him? Price ought to be in jail himself.

Rally behind him?? He is a convicted drug trafficker.

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