Kevin Murphy, MD, an oncologist who accused UC San Diego of retaliation, has been awarded more than $39.5 million, The San Diego Union Tribune reported Aug. 2.
The Regents of the University of California originally sued Dr. Murphy, alleging fraud and breach of duty. Dr. Murphy then countersued the board of regents, alleging retaliation and wrongful termination.
The conflict began when Dr. Murphy's patient donated $10 million. The university planned to use it as a general gift for its cancer center, according to the report, but Dr. Murphy said the donor had intended for the money to fund his research into brain stimulation treatment.
The school eventually allocated the money to Dr. Murphy's research, but, according to the suit, officials thwarted his attempts to set up clinical trials. The school alleged Dr. Murphy violated policies and used donated funds to set up a research clinic.
The lawsuits were combined into one trial. The jury awarded Dr. Murphy around $9.5 million in economic damages and $30 million in noneconomic damages and awarded UC Regents around $67,000 from Dr. Murphy for money he earned outside the university.