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The former director of the University of Akron Press has sued the university for defamation.

(Karen Farkas, cleveland.com)

AKRON, Ohio - Thomas Bacher, who lost his job as director of the the University of Akron Press during budget cuts, is suing the university for defamation.

Bacher claims President Scott Scarborough ruined his reputation by falsely stating that a leadership issue existed at the press, according to the lawsuit filed Monday in the Ohio Court of Claims.

Scarborough was named in the lawsuit, but was dismissed because only state agencies can be defendants in the Court of Claims.

"The university does not comment on matters involving pending litigation," a spokesman said in an email about the lawsuit.

See the lawsuit below or click here if on a mobile device.

Bacher was hired in 2008. He and his two staff members revived the press, which had numerous problems, and published up to 20 books per year, the lawsuit says.

On July 10, 2015, university officials said 215 positions would be eliminated as part of efforts to cut $40 million from the university's budget.

Provost Michael Sherman met with Bacher on Juy 27 and said all three positions at the press would be cut, the lawsuit says.

"Provost Sherman told Plaintiff Bacher that this decison was not based on the performance of Bacher, and was based only on counting beans," the lawsuit says.

Bacher earned $107,064 a year, the university said.

University officials later announced the press was not closing but was relocating to the library. Two weeks later officials announced the two staff members would be rehired.

Scarborough, in an Aug. 26 interview with cleveland.com reporters and editors, discussed the UA Press actions.

He admitted that "cuts were made too deep." He said officials had been unaware that the employees were needed to handle projects that were underway or planned at the press.

He also said a leadership issue existed at the press, and his desire not to disparage someone led to a lack of information being released as to why staff members were laid off.

Bacher's lawsuit said Scarborough's statement about leadership was false and no leadership issue was brought to his attention. The statement was defamatory and has injured his reputation, Bacher says in the lawsuit.

Bacher is seeking damages of at least $25,000 and a statement from Scarborough and UA that the statement was false.