University of Colorado Settles Lawsuit with Renowned Historian, Affirms Ownership of Her Scholarly Works

BOULDER, Colo. – After a prolonged legal dispute, the University of Colorado has reached a settlement with Patty Limerick, a distinguished historian and longtime faculty member who was dismissed from her position at the Center for the American West last year. The agreement, mediated this week, acknowledged Limerick’s ownership over her extensive body of academic work, culminating her year-long battle for intellectual property rights.

Limerick, who has been a significant figure at the Boulder campus since 1984, filed a lawsuit in Boulder County District Court in May. She contended that the university was unjustly restricting her access to her scholarly materials, which she needed for ongoing academic and professional projects. Despite the university initially offering her limited access to some electronic records, it steadfastly refused to grant full access to all relevant documents.

The contention centered around an explosive issue of intellectual property which Limerick hoped would highlight the university’s valuation of work produced by professors in arts and humanities, arguing it should be on par with the recognition given to the scientific and engineering sectors.

In her pursuit, Limerick encompassed months of efforts including hiring a lawyer and filing open-records requests to regain her works housed in the university’s libraries and databases. The university, on its part, maintained that it was not obstructing her access, stating that it owns any educational and scholarly materials produced by her during her tenure.

As part of the mediation, a statement from Limerick’s legal team indicated that the university acknowledged her ownership of the contested materials, marking a significant vindication for Limerick. Her attorney issued a statement saying Limerick hoped this outcome would shield other professors from similar disputes in the future.

The university reaffirmed its respect for Limerick, emphasizing that she remains a valued tenured professor. Both parties expressed support for Limerick’s ongoing and future projects, specifically her contribution to the Applied History Initiative aimed at nurturing young historians.

The conflict initially escalated when Glen Krutz, the then-new dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, terminated Limerick’s association with the Center for the American West in September 2022. Founded by Limerick in 1986, the center has been an influential platform addressing key issues in Western challenges. The decision followed an internal investigation which cited violations of ethical rules and a strained relationship with the center staff, leading to significant resignations within the center’s executive committee.

This termination not only led to her legal battle but also brought substantial backlash from the academic community, with over 300 scholars rallying in support of Limerick. They argued that the firing posed a significant threat to the vitality of the Center for the American West and could potentially damage the broader field of Western historical studies.

Krutz subsequently stepped down as dean in June, although he remains a professor at the college. Amidst these challenges, Limerick’s legal representatives lauded her four decades of dedication to the university, stressing the recent troubles had curtailed her influential role within the university community.

As Limerick prepares to continue her advocacy and scholarly endeavors, she reflects on the episode with a sense of relief and an ongoing commitment to the university, her colleagues, and students.

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