Purpose

In the ordinary course of Lindenwood University’s business and operations, it may receive communications or other correspondence from various sources that are legal or legal related in nature. To help ensure the University timely receives and reviews such communications, it is important all communications of this nature are directed to the University’s general counsel’s office as soon as possible.

Scope

This policy applies to all legal related communications received by University employees.

Policy

In the event an employee receives or becomes aware of a communication from a non-Lindenwood source that is legal or legal related in nature, it is the responsibility of the employee to ensure such communication is provided to the University’s general counsel’s office as soon as possible, in part, because strict deadlines may exist. Examples of sources of these types of communications include, but are not limited to from:

• Non-University lawyers;
• Federal, state, or local agencies or entities, such as the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Internal Revenue Service, the Missouri Commission on Human Rights, etc.;
• Any Court or law enforcement official, including for subpoena’s, summons, and/or requests for information; and
• Any entity with University oversight obligations or responsibilities, including related to compliance with any federal, state, or local law, rule, or regulation.

Such communications can be in both verbal and written form. In the event you are contacted directly, employees should not provide any information or statement regarding the subject matter thereof, but rather employees should receive the information being provided, obtain the contact information, and timely provide that information to the general counsel’s office who will then coordinate the University’s response.

Similarly, if you become aware of actual or threatened of litigation, agency action, legal action, or other proceedings that could have a negative impact on the University, please report the same to the general counsel’s office as soon as possible.

If you are uncertain of whether something is legal or legal related in nature, please err on the side of reporting it to the general counsel’s office as soon as possible. The contact information for the University’s general counsel is Mark Falkowski via email to mfalkowski@lindenwood.edu or via phone to (636) 949-4916.