More Defendants Added To ORU Lawsuit

A lawsuit against Oral Roberts University is expanding. Three former professors suing the school are now including Oral Roberts Ministries in the lawsuit. Former professors John Swails, Tim Brooker and Brooker's wife Paulita, also a former professor, are suing ORU and Richard Roberts for wrongful termination. Their attorney says they have added Oral Roberts Ministries to the suit because that is who provided their paychecks.

A claim of fraud was also added to the suit. The professors say the university hired them without disclosing the school's financial situation. Last month, the university disclosed it is $52 million in debt. The ORU Regents blame the debt on ongoing maintenance costs at the university and weak donor support.

The plaintiff's attorneys also subpoenaed a pilot, security guard and investigator as witnesses in the lawsuit.