An attorney for the former chancellor of IPFW pressed arguments that a businessman defamed him in a letter shortly before he was forced to retire.
A state appeals court panel heard arguments Wednesday in the lawsuit filed by former IPFW chancellor Michael Wartell against businessman Larry Lee for writing to then-Purdue President France Cordova that Wartell lacked integrity.
Wartell was forced to retire at age 65 in 2012 under a little-used retirement age policy for high-level administrators.
The Journal Gazette reports Lee's attorney characterized the letter during the court hearing as a polite way of expressing criticism.
The judges didn't say when they would rule on letting the lawsuit move forward.
Purdue paid Wartell $52,000 to settle an age discrimination lawsuit.
