TEMPE, Ariz. – Maricopa Community Colleges former IT manager is considering filing a wrongful termination lawsuit against the school, claiming that he was fired after he warned officials of a potential data breach.
In 2013, campus officials revealed that a data breach put 2.4 million students and staff members at risk for identity theft. The FBI later caught hackers trying to sell the Social Security numbers, banking information and academic records, AZ Family reports.
Several months later, school officials revealed the incident and issued a warning to those affected.
On July 22, MCC board of directors decided to terminate its IT director, Miguel Corzo, who claims that he told school officials about the potential data breach, in a 3-2 vote.
Corzo, who worked for the college for years, says he warned college officials about data breaches 12 times in 2012, but they didn’t listen.
During the board meeting to discuss firing Corzo, the former IT manager claims that when he asked to review the case against him and present his own case, he was denied.
Corzo, who is considering filing a wrongful termination suit, believe he is being used as a scapegoat to cover over the school’s negligence.
