File photo. (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Aaron Schulze

TRU v. Phillips Resolved

Terminated TRU administrator settles with university out of court

Apr 6, 2026 | 10:11 AM

KAMLOOPS — A civil lawsuit between a former Thompson Rivers University (TRU) administrator and the university will not go to court. 

TRU announced it has reached a mutually agreeable settlement with Larry Phillips, the university’s former vice-president of people and culture, following mediation.

Phillips, who was the subject of an independent investigation into improper conduct after a group of complainants filed a whistleblower complaint in February 2021, was terminated from his position in December later that year. 

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. 

Question of the Week

After next Monday's by-elections, do you believe the federal Liberals will have a majority government?

1h ago

1000 Ways To Heal

1000 WAYS TO HEAL: The Straw, the Turtle and Good Intentions

1h ago

Looped In

LOOPED IN WITH NIKKI OMEN: April 6, 2026

1h ago

Phillips filed a lawsuit against the university in April 2023, alleging breach of contract, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence and breach of privacy. A trial was scheduled to begin in February 2026 although it was delayed. The next trial date would have been in August 2027. 

In a news release issued Friday (April 2), TRU says the terms of the settlement are confidential and will not be disclosed by the university or Phillips. 

Phillips was seeking more than $72,000 that believed was owed to him by the university, in addition to damages. 

TRU says there were mistakes in its handling of the investigation, which resulted in unfairness to Phillips and worsened the situation for him and his family. 

“TRU implemented what was meant to be a confidential investigation process, but some of the complainants took their allegations to the media, where they were widely reported and exaggerated. This caused significant reputational harm and mental distress to Mr. Phillips,” TRU states. 

“Despite the termination of his employment and the widespread publication of the allegations against him, Mr. Phillips participated in good faith in the investigation and maintained the confidentiality of the process. While Mr. Phillips was ultimately found to have committed some breaches of TRU policy, the more serious allegations which had been publicized in the media were found to be unsubstantiated.”

Copies of the redacted and unredacted reports can no longer be found on the TRU Board of Governors website.