Judge refuses to dismiss TRCC suit against Southeast

Circuit Judge William Seay has refused to dismiss a lawsuit by Three Rivers Community College against Southeast Missouri State University over operation of Bootheel education centers.

Southeast asked the judge to dismiss the lawsuit.

The university argued that TRCC failed to work through the administrative process of the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education to resolve the dispute.

In dismissing the motion, the judge ruled that the coordinating board has no authority to dictate a resolution to the contract dispute.

Paul Kidwell, an attorney for TRCC, said Monday that the community college wants Southeast to pay monetary damages of more than $25,000.

Southeast president Dr. Ken Dobbins said he was disappointed by the judge's ruling.