File photo. (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Aaron Schulze

Phillips v. TRU

Terminated TRU administrator claims ‘bad faith treatment’ as trial against school delayed

Jan 14, 2026 | 7:04 AM

KAMLOOPS — A former Thompson Rivers University (TRU) administrator who is suing the university is claiming to be a continued recipient of “bad faith treatment” as the trial has been postponed by another year.  

Larry Phillips, TRU’s former vice-president of people and culture, filed a lawsuit against the university in April 2023, alleging breach of contract, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence and breach of privacy. 

An Amended Notice of Civil Claim removed former TRU President Brett Fairbairn as a defendant and removed an alleged violation of the Workers Compensation Act. 

Phillips was the subject of an independent investigation into improper conduct after a group of complainants filed a whistleblower complaint in February 2021. Phillips was terminated from his position in December 2021. In his statement of claim filed in B.C. Supreme Court, Phillips claims Fairbairn told him his dismissal was not related to the complaints or ongoing investigation.  

A statement to CFJC Today from Vancouver-based lawyer Andrea Zwack, Phillips’ legal counsel, claims Phillips asked TRU to publicly clarify the findings against him, “or at least provide him with the full report on the findings against him so that he could do so,” but the university refused.  

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“Mr. Phillips also wrote to the TRU Board Chair, Marilyn McLean, outlining several concerns related to violations of the investigation’s terms of reference, the investigation process, report and findings,” Zwack states. “Unfortunately, TRU was unwilling to discuss or address Mr. Phillips’ concerns in any way. TRU also refused to pay Mr. Phillips for work he performed, and other obligations TRU had previously agreed to, forcing Mr. Phillips to file a lawsuit in order to obtain redress for his basic contractual entitlements and the harms caused to Mr. Phillips’ by TRU’s conduct.”  

Zwack says a trial was scheduled to commence on Feb. 9, 2026, but TRU petitioned B.C. Supreme Court to postpone the trial, claiming it could not be completed in the time scheduled. Zwack says the next possible trial date would be in August 2027, although she and Phillips cannot book those dates until Feb. 1, 2026. 

“Mr. Phillips views this most recent action by TRU, evidently supported by TRU’s new President, Dr.  Airini, as a continuation of its bad faith treatment of him which began with his termination and has continued since then,” Zwack states. “Mr. Phillips and his family have suffered significantly over the past four years and he has waited patiently to resolve these matters at trial.”  

In total, eight complainants raised 55 complaints against Phillips and TRU Vice-President of Administration and Finance Matt Milovick. According to an unredacted report released by TRU in 2024. Milovick was fully exonerated in the investigation, while 10 complaints against Phillips, who was referred to as “Respondent 1” in the full report, were substantiated. The 10 complaints included sexual harassment, sexist comments, discrimination, personal harassment, misogynistic comments, anti-Indigenous comments and derogatory comments about International Women’s Day.  

Phillips is seeking more than $72,000 he believes is owed to him by the university, in addition to damages. Phillips’ allegations have not been tested or proven in court. 

Zwack declined an interview with CFJC Today as the matters are before the courts but mentioned Phillips wants to get the trial resolved, and the postponement was frustrating for him.

TRU also declined to comment to CFJC Today as the matters are before the courts.