Despite a local newspaper’s claim that a former Binghamton University doctoral student is suing the University for $202 million, the University has no knowledge of any further legal proceeding, a BU spokeswoman said.

The Press and Sun-Bulletin reported Sunday that Charles Ogindo ‘intends to persevere’ in suing BU and some of its professors over what he said was stolen work. Ogindo contends that his research was published without listing him as a co-author and he was forced out of a doctoral program.

But BU remains quiet about the case, saying Ogindo, who is still enrolled as a student, is covered under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

‘I also can’t discuss the specifics of the case since it is still in litigation,’ said BU spokeswoman Gail Glover. ‘But in respect to the legal matter discussed in the local newspaper on Sunday, the court dismissed the matter on Friday and we have no knowledge of any further legal proceeding involving this matter.’

Ogindo originally filed the civil lawsuit in state Supreme Court in May. But according to the Press and Sun, the state Supreme Court determined during a pre-trial hearing Friday that it had no jurisdiction over the case. Ogindo must refile it in the state’s Court of Claims.

According to the Press and Sun, Ogindo, 39, is suing BU; his former adviser, Professor John J. Eisch; former chemistry department Chairman David C. Doetschman; Director of Graduate Studies Wayne E. Jones Jr.; and chemistry department Chairman Alistair J. Lees.

Ogindo claims that Eisch published the results of two experiments, one of which was essential to his dissertation, that Ogindo carried out, but didn’t include Ogindo as a co-author. Ogindo’s research involved forming safer and cheaper methods for transforming raw materials in fine chemicals ‘ including pharmaceuticals ‘ and conducting polymers. He said the University then stopped him from defending his dissertatoin, which he said included information worth $200 million, for shaky reasons.

Ogindo entered BU’s doctoral program in 2004. He worked in Eisch’s research program, but was accused of unsatisfactory lab performance. Eisch claimed Ogindo’s original work wasn’t substantial for a dissertation. He also said that Ogindo’s research was poorly recorded in his notebooks.

By July 2006, Eisch had removed Ogindo from his research program and lab. Ogindo was given the option of writing a master’s thesis of his findings, which he refused because he thought his work was worthy of a Ph.D.