The former president of SUNY Erie Community College is suing ECC’s faculty union and its president for defamation over written remarks posted on the union website and emailed to hundreds of members.
The message on the Faculty Federation of ECC website from FFECC President Andrew Sako accuses Balkin of “deception, slashing and burning in order to dismantle the college and rebuild it into a low-rate trade school,” among other statements.
Balkin is seeking $300,000 in damages, and the lawsuit indicates he will seek more if the union continues to defame him. He says the remarks are false and malicious, but the union refused a request his attorney made earlier this month to take down the post or correct it.
Balkin’s lawsuit, filed in state Supreme Court in Niagara County, says Sako and the FFECC have “irreparably damaged” Balkin’s reputation as a college president or chief executive.
Balkin, who resigned as president of ECC in December, is among the candidates for the presidency of Buffalo State University who submitted applications for the job prior to a July 1 deadline.
Sako published the post on the union’s website and emailed it to members on July 27.
The post, which as of Thursday was still live on the FFECC site, does not refer to Balkin by name, but it’s clear “the former president” of ECC referred to is Balkin.
Balkin’s complaint says he is not a public figure – a designation that allows much more latitude in public comments under free speech laws – “nor has he voluntarily injected himself into a matter of public concern in an attempt to influence the outcome of a controversy.”
Balkin signed an agreement not to say anything negative about ECC when he resigned in December, and he has never disparaged the college, the union or Sako.
Balkin “had a good reputation in the community as a college president and was known as having a good character,” the complaint states.
Balkin served as ECC president for barely 11…
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