Judge Michael J. Malone ruled last Friday that the former director of the University of Kansas Alumni Association must settle his dispute outside of court through arbitration.

Fred Williams sued the association for breach of contract and defamation when it fired him on May 27, 2004, after 21 years of employment.

Williams argued that the wording in his contract did not show mutual agreement between the two parties to arbitrate.

The contract stated that the parties desired to resolve all disputes without resorting to litigation. He also argued that arbitration did not cover the defamation claim.

Judge Malone ruled that the parties had “agreed to arbitrate, not litigate,” based on the language in the contract.

In his memorandum of decision, Malone also said that all proceedings in case must be stopped until arbitration is finished.