Dozens listed as possible witnesses in Breuder lawsuit

Attorneys for former College of DuPage President Robert Breuder have identified 50 people, including current and former COD board members, as “persons with knowledge” in Breuder's wrongful termination lawsuit.

After being fired as president of COD last fall, Breuder sued the school's board of trustees and specifically four members — former Chairwoman Kathy Hamilton, current Chairwoman Deanne Mazzochi, and trustees Frank Napolitano and Charles Bernstein.

Hamilton, Mazzochi, Napolitano and Bernstein approved a resolution Oct. 20 to fire Breuder about five months before he was scheduled to step down with a controversial $763,000 severance package.

The lawsuit claims the four decided to fire Breuder long before October “based solely on their personal interests and political agendas.”

In a document filed Tuesday in federal court, Breuder's attorneys listed the names of people who are “likely to have discoverable information that Dr. Breuder will use to support his claims and defenses.”

Topping the list are Hamilton, Mazzochi, Napolitano and Bernstein.

The rest of the list includes current and former COD employees and current and former lawyers for the school, and Breuder's wife. Journalists for the Chicago Tribune and Daily Herald also are listed.

The defendants in the case have said Breuder was fired in the wake of internal investigations that, according to a termination resolution, found evidence of “misconduct and mismanagement.”

The college has said the board stands by its action to fire Breuder.

Breuder is seeking more than $2 million in compensatory and punitive damages.