Founder of charity sues over firing

OKLAHOMA CITY, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- The founder of an Oklahoma-based charity, Feed The Children, has sued the board of directors for firing him as president.

Larry Jones, who has admitted arranging hidden microphones in the group's offices, filed the lawsuit Tuesday in Circuit Court in Oklahoma City, The Oklahoman reported. He named as defendants Feed The Children and the five directors who voted to dismiss him Friday.

In court papers, Jones says he was dismissed "for reasons of personal malice and spite and not for any authorized cause."

He asks for his job back and for damages for "dignitary harms" and for the value of his contract.

Jones also asked the court to impose a temporary restraining order to bar the organization from using his name or picture.

"There is no need for a temporary restraining order because we are doing everything possible to get his name and photo off of anything to do with Feed The Children," Feed the Children lawyers said.

Jones, who founded the organization three decades ago, has said the hidden microphones were intended only to record his conversations and not to spy on others. The board has not said the incident was the reason for his dismissal.