Law firm bills MU $137K for leading probe into academic misconduct allegations
Blake Toppmeyer @btoppmeyer
Missouri has amassed a six-digit bill since December from the law firm that's spearheading the university's investigation into former tutor Yolanda Kumar's allegations of academic misconduct within the athletic department.
The firm Bond, Schoeneck & King has issued six billings to Missouri that total $137,427.78, according to records obtained by the Tribune via an open-records request. The university so far has paid four installments totaling $113,301.58. The most recent billings, issued to the university in May and June, haven't been paid yet.
Missouri hired attorney Mike Glazier and his law firm Bond, Schoeneck & King in November to work in conjunction with the NCAA and lead the university's efforts in its investigation of Kumar's allegations. Glazier, who is based from his firm's Overland Park, Kan., office, is considered an expert at representing universities in NCAA cases. He previously guided Missouri through its most recent investigation into violations committed by the men's basketball program, which resulted in MU self-imposing penalties in January 2016.
Kumar, who was a math tutor within the athletic department's Total Person Program until her November resignation, claims she cheated for athletes across several sports programs at the encouragement of academic coordinators.
An athletic department spokesman confirmed that the law firm's six billings issued beginning Dec. 2 are for its work in the ongoing investigation. Missouri athletic director Jim Sterk said on June 28 that Glazier remained on retainer and that the investigation will remain active until the NCAA notifies the university otherwise.
"I think" the NCAA has "gotten most of the information," Sterk said then, "but there's still maybe some information they're still trying to get."
Missouri announced on Nov. 22 that it had received allegations of potential academic rules violations committed by a former tutor. That came after Kumar posted a whistleblowing Facebook message that was obtained by the Tribune and other media outlets.
btoppmeyer@columbiatribune.com