Terri Patraw Blog #3
http://blog.terri-patraw.org
Terri Patraw Blog #3

Athletic Director Cary Groth Violated Her Employment Contract

In March of 2009, my whistleblower decision was remanded on appeal after I presented evidence of perjury, falsification of evidence, and concealment of documents by Athletic Director Cary Groth, General Counsel Mary Dugan and Attorney Kent Robison.

Yet, despite full knowledge of Groth
s criminal acts (felonies), President Glick rewarded her with a 3-year contract extension in September.

Groth
s contract has moral turpitude and ethical standards clauses (section 4.03.b) that have been ignored by the University President with no regard for the consequence to the university, the athletic program, and the student-athletes.

Athletic Director Cary Groth Commits Despicable Perjury

On June 22, 2006, Athletic Director Cary Groth received an email containing a statement that I was aware of NCAA rule violations in the Nevada men’s basketball program.

Here are excerpts from her deposition regarding that email:

Athletic Director Groth’s Deposition #1:

Q:            And on the second page it says, "Coach Patraw said she also had knowledge of a basketball coach violating NCAA rules and believes he is also afraid of her disclosing the violations to the University." Is that the part that you were referring to?

GROTH:   Yes.

Q:          Did you take it to [the Director of Compliance]?

GROTH:   I didn’t.
....
 
GROTH:   Our faculty athletics rep at the time was Chris Exline, and I showed him this letter...

Q:          Do you know if he did anything at all with –

GROTH:   No. I don’t know if he had a conversation with Terri or not.

 
Athletic Director Groth’s Deposition #2 (on the same subject/email two weeks later):

Q:          Okay. What did you do about it?
....
     
GROTH:   
...  had a conversation with our faculty rep, and I don’t know what he did about it.

Q:            
Who is the faculty rep?

GROTH:    It’s Dr. Exline, Chris Exline.

Groth’s testimony is nothing but a physical impossibility. Dr. Chris Exline, a wonderful man, passed away on April 11, 2006, two months before the existence of the June 22, 2006 email alleging the NCAA violations. 

Groth did not "show him this letter" nor did she "have a conversation with him" about it. 

Not only did Groth lie, she placed blame for the lack of investigation into the allegations on an innocent man who is no longer with us to defend himself.  Her lies exposed her cover up of NCAA violations in the Nevada Athletic Department.

The faculty rep at the time was Dr. Jean Perry.  Perry testified that Groth did not report the allegations to her.

Any more questions on this Athletic Director's integrity, or rather lack thereof?

- Excerpts from the transcript of the hearing on corruption at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Athletic Director Cary Groth Lies To Donors, Others

I recently reviewed minutes from the AAUN (athletic department donors) meetings. The minutes revealed that Groth lies to the donors too. Unbelievable. She, of course, spoke to them about me ... and guess what? She lied! If these people only knew.

It is stunning that the Athletic Director would lie to a group of people who are voluntarily donating their time, energy, and money to the Nevada Athletic Department. She is a sad role model for the student-athletes.

Groth also told these same donors that the university won my whistleblower hearing. However, she apparently failed to tell them that the whistleblower hearing was remanded on appeal because of her perjury, falsification of evidence, and concealment of documents.

She also failed to tell them that the hearing officer was suspended for his misconduct in my case. I could not find this information anywhere in the minutes. So much for operating with transparency.

After 2+ years of witnessing UNR Athletic Director Cary Groth lie under oath, lie in affidavits, lie to the media, lie to donors, lie to judges, and lie to "others", I was compelled to do a little research on
liars:


Pathological Liar: is usually defined as someone who lies incessantly to get their way and does so with little concern for others. Pathological liars have little regard or respect for the rights and feelings of others. A pathological liar often comes across as being manipulative, cunning and self-centered.

Compulsive Liar: A compulsive liar lies out of habit. Compulsive liars bend the truth about everything, large and small. For a compulsive liar, telling the truth is very awkward and uncomfortable while lying feels right.


So much for honesty and integrity in athletics!

Dispicable Leadership Under Athletic Director Cary Groth

Chuck Wynne, of the NCAA, said . . . "We’re all about student-athlete well-being" . . . 

At the University of Nevada, Reno, however, the administration attempts to "use" student-athletes to cover up their corruption.
       
Then interim Coach Antoinette Marjanovic conspired with Executive Associate Athletic Director Cindy Fox to solicit manufactured evidence from student-athletes:
 
    

I [student-athlete’s name redacted] was contacted by an athletic department employee, Antoinette Marjanovic. She asked me if I would send in a written complaint about Terri.  Marjanovic said that Cindy Fox stopped in her office and said if you can get the student athletes to write complaints that Terri’s presence makes them uncomfortable we can use those statements to get her banned from campus.



So much for student-athlete well being . . .

AD Cary Groth Commits Perjury - NCAA Violation Cover Up

Of course, true to form, Nevada Athletic Director Cary Groth committed more perjury . . . pertaining to her own cover-up of NCAA violations in the Nevada Men's Basketball Program.


Athletic Director Cary Groth's Under Oath
Lie:

ATTORNEY KENT ROBISON: .... did you become aware later that [Terri] accepted money in exchange for not reporting [Assistant Basketball Coach] to the NCAA?

CARY GROTH: I did.

ROBISON: Is that violative of her role as a coach at the University of Nevada, Reno?

GROTH: It is her responsibility to inform us of any potential NCAA violations, yes, sir.


Groth and Robison know that I have NEVER accepted any money from the Assistant Basketball Coach in exchange for not reporting NCAA violations. I have absolute proof of this. In addition, the Assistant Basketball Coach has also stated that this is a false statement [lie] by Groth.

So why would Groth lie about this? Because she covered up NCAA violations in the basketball program and subsequently violated her role as Nevada's Athletic Director.


Psst: I can only hope that Dr. Jean Perry reported AD Groth's misconduct (perjury and cover up of NCAA violations) to the NCAA. Perry oversees compliance at UNR so it would be violative of her role if she failed to do so.

It is Groth's lack of leadership that has the University under investigation by the NCAA.

Athletic Director Cary Groth Tampered With Witnesses

The following is an example of witness tampering by University of Nevada, Reno Athletic Director Cary Groth, Executive Associate Athletic Director Cindy Fox, and Head Golf Coach Rich Merritt.


Q:  "Did Cary Groth ever call you and encourage you to stay out of this lawsuit?"

WITNESS:  "Yes, she did."

Q:  "Did Cindy Fox?"

WITNESS:  "Yes, she did."

Q:  "Did Rich Merritt?"

WITNESS:  "Yes, he did."


The witness then testified about what AD Cary Groth said to her:

WITNESS:  "You are going to want to stay quiet. Keep your mouth shut. Stay quiet, you know, stay out of this because it's going to involve attorneys and to protect your family you don't want to be involved."

Q:  "Did anybody ever say to you that Terri wasn't your friend?"

WITNESS:  "Yes, Associate AD Cindy Fox.  She called my house . . . I pretty much kind of questioned her because Terri and Cindy were so close."

"Cindy said the same thing that Cary said, 'Stay out of it, you know, protect your family.  Protect those boys . . . remain quiet.  Don't talk to Terri,' those types of things."

Q:  "Similar to what Cary Groth said to you?"

WITNESS:  "Yes."

Q:  "Was Cindy Fox still your supervisor at the time?"

WITNESS:  "Yes."

Athletic Director Cary Groth Lies Under Oath

This is one of many, many, many examples of perjury by Athletic Director Cary Groth: 

         General Counsel Mary Dugan:

         - "Patraw refused the contract offer made to her by AD Groth on August 22, 2007"

         VP Human Resources:

         - "It is clear to me Groth had offered Patraw a contract"

         Associate Athletic Director:

         - "Groth did mention that there had been a new contract offer to Patraw"

         Vice-Provost Janet Vreeland

         - "Well, they made Patraw an offer.  I was told she rejected it"

         An Athletic Director at another University:

         - "I spoke to Groth . . . She stated she offered you a contract  and you turned it down"


Groth's testimony under oath in a deposition:

            QUESTION:    Had the August 2007 contract been extended to Patraw?

            GROTH:         No


Liar!  Groth knew that terminating someone a few days after offering them a multi-year contract and raise is irrational and retaliatory.  She lied under oath to conceal her retaliation. 

- Excerpts from the transcript of the hearing on corruption at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Athletic Director Cary Groth ... Yep ... More Lies!

Athletic Director Cary Groth was made aware (via an email) on June 22nd, 2006 that I had knowledge of NCAA violations in the men's basketball program.

This is Cary Groth's testimony regarding that email:

Groth read that e-mail and she acknowledges that in her deposition.

Groth concedes she did not take the allegations of violations in the email to her Director of Compliance.

Groth also says she did not tell Jean Perry about it because "Jean Perry wasn't hired at the time" (June 22, 2006). Perry oversees the compliance office in the Nevada Athletic Department.

Athletic Director Groth testified under oath that "Jean Perry wasn't hired at the time" (June 22, 2006). If you go back one page to 1829, it proves that Jean Perry was hired five months earlier.

Jean Perry began working in the athletic department on January 1st, 2006.

So that was another lie by Groth in her coverup of NCAA violations.

AD Cary Groth . . . Perjury And Manufactured Evidence

The overwhelming evidence of whistleblower retaliation in my case, including direct admissions of retaliation by Athletic Director Cary Groth and the university lawyers, led the defendants to engage in criminal activity in their efforts to defeat my claims.

The testimony below sheds light on another lie by Groth while she was attempting to manufacture evidence against me.
  
______________________

ATHLETIC DIRECTOR GROTH TESTIFIED:

Q            Was - - now . . . was any opportunity given to Terri to talk to NAME REDACTED?

GROTH:    No. I made that decision.  She asked. I told her I’d set it up, but after discussing it with other people, and trying to determine what the benefit of that meeting would be, I decided not to, and NAME REDACTED, at the same time, didn’t want - - to have a conversation with her.



NAME REDACTED TESTIFIED:

Q            Do you know if Terri was trying to get a meeting with you about this matter?

NR:         Me?

Q            Yes.

NR:         Not to my knowledge.

Q            Ms. Groth never told you that?

NR:         No.

______________________

In her desperation to manufacture evidence, Athletic Director Groth is caught lying once again.

Lies To Conceal Athletic Director Cary Groth's Retalation

University of Nevada, Reno Attorney Charles Hilsabeck lied to the Judge during my case.

There was testimony that Athletic Director Cary Groth received the final report detailing and confirming violations of NCAA rules by Head Golf Coach Rich Merritt "around August 20th". 

Hilsabeck stated in his brief that "In fact, this is not the case, and NAME REDACTED's tentative testimony does not prove that to be the case."

Liar!  Hilsabeck was exposed in a follow-up deposition and documents which revealed that the report was absolutely given to Groth on August 20th. 

Hilsabeck lied to the Judge to conceal Groth's retaliation against me. 

You see, Groth had reduced my contract offer on August 22nd, just two days after she found out that my allegations against the golf coach were true.  

Groth retained Merritt despite full knowledge that he lied, cheated, hit a student-athlete, and jeopardized the eligibility and welfare of his student-athletes.  

Groth fired the person who reported the violations, had top performance evaluations, won a championship,
and had a clean NCAA record.  Any question about her morals?

Hilsabeck and the UNR defense team (led by Mary Dugan and Kent Robison) lie in nearly every brief they file.  Therefore it should not be a surprise to learn that Hilsabeck was sanctioned by a Federal Judge for submitting four false affidavits in another UNR retaliation case. 

The UNR retaliation team has submitted false affidavits and false personnel files in my case.  These people have no shame.

Criminal Acts By Atheltic Director Cary Groth, et al.

The following is a list of acts committed by Nevada Athletic Director Cary Groth, President Milton Glick, General Counsel Mary Dugan, Attorney Kent Robison, and/or their subordinates in my case:

     - Perjury

- Subornation of perjury

     
-
Submission of false personnel files 

    
-
Falsification of public documents

    
-
Illegal subpoena

    
-
Falsification of legal documents

    
-
Manufactured false evidence

     - Solicitation of student-athletes to manufacture evidence

    
- Threats to witnesses and their families

    
- Witness tampering and witness harassment

     
-
Embezzlement

     
-
Perjured Affidavits

     
-
Abuse of Power

     
-
Harassment

     
-
False and Defamatory statements in the media 

Nevada Athletic Director Cary Groth Commits Perjury

Here is more direct evidence of felonies committed by the "upstanding" role model and leader of the Nevada Athletic Department, Athletic Director Cary Groth.

Deposition 1: Cary Groth said she picked up the phone and called Dedrique Taylor.

Deposition 2 (12 days after Deposition 1): Groth confirmed that she called Dedrique Taylor.

In an interview just 3 weeks after these depositions, Groth told the NCAA she did not recall contacting Dedrique Taylor.

UNR was then asked to produce the record of Groth's phone call to Dedrique Taylor.  It is a long-distance phone call (between Groth and Taylor) so that is easy to produce with a billing invoice.

However, UNR says there is no document responsive to this request.  BUSTED!
 
Dedrique Taylor also reported that Groth never called him.  BUSTED AGAIN!

Athletic Director Groth is caught lying under oath...yet again.  It gets more serious when you realize why Groth was lying about the phone call to Dedrique Taylor.  That is spelled out in the court transcript beginning at the top of page 62.

By the way, UNR President Milton Glick is informed of Groth's criminal misconduct. 


- Excerpts from the transcript of the hearing on corruption at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Athletic Director Cary Groth Falsified Evidence

How does University of Nevada, Reno Athletic Director Cary Groth falsify evidence?

Here is an email from a former UNR employee to Groth:
    
Can you remind me again what that email I need to say to you needs to have in it? 

     
Forty-three (43) minutes later, at the direction of Groth, an email arrives from this former employee with Groth's manufactured evidence.  

                                 *                                *                                   *

Did you know it is a felony to falsify evidence?  Yes, Cary Groth committed yet another felony on the job. Groth engaged in this illegal activity through her UNR email account.

Why did this former employee take part in this criminal activity?  Because he too was guilty of misconduct (violating NCAA rules) on the job and therefore conspired with Groth to cover it up.

Does Athletic Director Cary Groth Have Behavior Issues?

After reviewing some of her lies / perjury, you may find this quite interesting:

QUESTION:  Do you consider lying and committing perjury behavior issues?

ATHLETIC DIRECTOR CARY GROTH:   Yes.


The Athletic Director at the University of Nevada, Reno admits under oath that she considers lying and committing perjury behavior issues . . .  And Groth has repeatedly lied and committed perjury.

Is Nevada Athletic Director Cary Groth A Retaliator?

Athletic Director Cary Groth to me: "You are a great, great coach. Nobody can deny that. I just need to move on. I looked in your personnel file. There was nothing to use against you." 

I responded, "This has whistleblower lawsuit written all over it."

Groth replied, "I know."


I guess it is pretty clear why the university lawyers had to falsify my personnel files.  My annual 
"commendable" personnel evaluations were problematic for them.

Board of Regents Handbook:  An evaluation of "commendable" shall be considered meritorious.

Nevada Athletic Director Cary Groth Accused Of Corruption

Below is one of the signs that was on display at the recent demonstration in support of a grand jury investigation of corruption by University of Nevada, Reno officialsThis sign was also shown on Channel 4 TV several times.

UNR's Police Chief Adam Garcia, General Counsel Mary Dugan, President Milton Glick, Athletic Director Cary Groth.




I have evidence and knowledge of corruption and criminal activity by all four of these individuals. 

Athletic Director Cary Groth's Illegal And Retaliatory Acts

UNR lawyers, Athletic Director Cary Groth, and President Milton Glick engaged in illegal and retaliatory activity during the hearing on public corruption at UNR that caused the Judge to shut the court down for 40 minutes.  They were not allowed to participate in the hearing yet they caused a scene that was a disgraceful representation of themselves and UNR.   

Citizens presented evidence of numerous felonies committed by Athletic Director Groth.  

Such evidence of crimes committed by Groth included: perjury, falsification of evidence, conspiring with others to falsify evidence, falsification of public documents, obstruction of justice, retaliation, tampering with witnesses (this included Groth threatening a witness' family), lying in affidavits, more perjury, submitting false evidence to the court, harassment, and even more perjury!  

We also presented evidence of crimes by UNR General Counsel Mary Dugan, President Glick, Police Chief Adam Garcia, outside lawyer Kent Robison, and several others.


Athletic Director Cary Groth Violates NCAA Ethical Standards

University of Nevada Athletic Director Cary Groth retained Golf Coach Rich Merritt with full knowledge that he repeatedly lied and mislead the administration.

President Glick retained AD Groth with full knowledge that she has lied to donors, judges, students, employees, colleagues, the community, and "others" in her position as A.D.  

Glick also knows that AD Groth committed perjury on numerous occasions and falsified documents to cover up her own misconduct.   

Glick rewarded his corrupt Athletic Director with a 3-year contract extension.

The NCAA is the governing body that sets the rules and standards of conduct that Groth and Glick are supposed to adhere to as representatives of UNR.  

See this quote from an NCAA major infractions case involving another university:

This was a serious infractions case, which included academic fraud and the provision of false and misleading information, violations the NCAA Committee on Infractions considers to be egregious.

Clearly the actions of Groth and Glick are not congruent with the spoken edict of the NCAA Committee on Infractions. 

Athletic Director Cary Groth Covers Up NCAA Violations

University of Nevada, Reno's Athletic Director Cary Groth covers up NCAA violations in her department.  She does not want them reported internally or externally. 

In a situation involving the Nevada men's basketball program, Groth threatened me in writing if I reported NCAA violations in the men's basketball program; violations that I possess evidence of. 

In another situation, Groth told me she would write a letter to clear one of my student-athletes to play without clearance by the NCAA.  That is a huge no-no.  The student-athlete was fortunately cleared to play by proper merit before Groth put this student-athlete and the soccer program at serious risk.

In the case of the men's golf program, a witness testified under oath that Groth was going to write a letter clearing the "former" men's golf coach of several allegations against him without any investigation.  Groth and the Golf Coach were alleged to be friends.  Groth did not dispute that she sent him emails/pictures of her social outings, gave him gifts, etc.

Groth has put the Nevada Athletic Department at risk of major NCAA sanctions. 

The Nevada Athletic Department continues to be under investigation by the NCAA.

Athletic Director Cary Groth Selling Ice To Eskimos?

The Nevada Athletic Department commenting on the Golf Coach's resignation...

In resigning this month, Rich Merritt said he made "errors in judgment" the athletic department was not aware of, but he declined to elaborate.
Athletic Director Cary Groth said the NCAA investigation had nothing to do with Merritt's resignation.

Is anyone buying this?
    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _    _  

UNR Police Chief Adam Garcia on Pornography sent to his email account...

In one e-mail sent by Assistant Chief Todd Renwick to his boss, the message asks Garcia, "Chief, are we on for casual Friday this week?" and is accompanied by a photo of a naked woman sitting at a computer desk with her legs spread.

Garcia said he knew of the pornographic e-mails Renwick sent. 
But Garcia said he never saw them because he never opens e-mails that appear to be inappropriate, forwarded or spam, even if they were to come from UNR's president.

And, anyone buying this?

"Some Really Bad People"

There are some really bad people at the University right now that need to go.   

              I really admire Terri for standing up to them.
        
                  - A High Ranking University Official



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