Former UI Visiting Associate suing university

Former Visiting Associate Dr. Ravi Sood has filed a lawsuit against the University of Iowa and the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine Director of Nuclear Medicine, Dr. Michael Graham, for an alleged breach of contract and violation of civil rights.

Sood, was hired as a full-time Visiting Associate in July 2008, but during the year period he was hired for, there was a breach in his contract which led to Sood unable to obtain employment since he left in June, according to a lawsuit filed by his attorney David Dutton, of Waterloo, on Jan. 22 at the Johnson County District Courthouse.

According to the lawsuit, Sood was not provided full-time appointment, had his status from Visiting Associate with billing privileges to clinical fellow without billing privileges, was not paid the promised $100,000 salary, and was not provided full clinical privileges as promised in the contract.

The lawsuit claims Graham stated in a letter than it was intended for Sood to have a shift in status without loss of privileges, but states Sood will be at a disadvantage for future employment opportunities as a result of the stigma from the issue.

The Iowa Board of Regents is also named in the lawsuit.

Sood is suing for an unspecified monetary amount. University spokesman Tom Moore said university officials do not comment of pending litigation.