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In March of 2000, Scott K. Ginsburg donated $5 million to the Georgetown University Law Center, according to The Dallas Morning News. The money was donated to the school so it could build a new fitness center named the Scott K. Ginsburg Health and Fitness Center.
After 12 years and millions more donated, Ginsburg’s name is nowhere to be found on campus or on the school’s website. Ginsburg wants his money back now, suing the school on Monday in Dallas federal court. He wants to recover “at least $7.5 million as the full amount of Georgetown’s unjust enrichment.”
The lawsuit says that the school began courting Ginsburg in 1999 and he said the following in a press release from September of 2000: “I hope my gift will inspire other alumni to support the Law Center.”
The lawsuit notes that “Over the next 10 years” various officials from the school, including president John DeGioia, visited Dallas “to solicit and encourage further donations.” The suit says that $11 million was promised and $2.5 million was delivered.
Following accusations by the Securities and Exchange Commission that accused Ginsburg of leaking inside information a jury ordered Ginsburg to pay $1 million. The lawsuit claims that the school got cold feet after the SEC case.
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“There are some things which … sadden me and have caused me some grief as I cerfed [sic] around the site,” Ginsburg wrote in an email to Georgetown Vice President of Strategic Development and External Affairs Kevin Conry. “There is a total void of mentioning me or my participation with the law school campus, and it has created a terrible anxiety for me. … Like many busy people who are blind to those around them, I have misjudged the school’s intent and now have realized that my role at Georgetown is sadly different than I thought it had been. I have an opportunity to fix my misunderstandings, and I want to do that.”
The lawsuit says the following: “It is now apparent that since 2002, Georgetown not only was not in fact committed to recognizing Ginsburg’s generosity by naming the sports center for him, but each of the foregoing oral and written representations to him about its claimed commitment was false, made only to entice him to give Georgetown more money. In reliance on Georgetown’s false representations and manipulation, Ginsburg donated a total of at least $7.5 million to Georgetown, including his completed original $5,000,000 pledge in the Agreement.”
The lawsuit was filed by attorney John “Trey” Cox III of Lynn, Tillotson & Pinker. Ginsburg is looking to reacquire his money as well as attorney fees and interest.
