One of Australia's most prominent medical research institutes is being accused of the "misappropriation" of donor money and government funding in a lawsuit launched by a former employee who claims his workplace rights were breached.
James Tran made the allegations against The Florey during a hearing in the Federal Circuit Court this morning where he urged a judge to grant him an extension of time to pursue a claim related to workplace protections against the institute.
Dr Tran launched legal action after The Florey filed a lawsuit against him in the Supreme Court of Victoria, claiming that in October last year he erased the documents after secretly stealing thousands of pages of cutting-edge research.
Dr Tran is defending the Supreme Court lawsuit and denies the allegations.
Today, he told the Federal Circuit Court that The Florey had engaged in "serious misconduct" and claimed it included the "misappropriation of philanthropic grants and government funding away from intended research purposes".
Dr Tran told the court that after he raised concerns while still employed by the Florey, he was threatened with termination, accused of misconduct and faced "sustained pressure" to resign.
"I'm aware that this practice was also enforced on others," he said.
"I was not the only employee who was raising these concerns.
"There are other parallel cases going on."
Nicholas Harrington, who is representing The Florey in court, said: "It's a form of tirade against a former employer."
Dr Tran, who is self-represented in this matter, initially submitted his paperwork incorrectly and had missed the court's deadline by the time it was resubmitted.
He told the court he required an extension of time because his law firm pulled out close to the deadline.
But Mr Harrington opposed the application.
Mr Harrington said there were inconsistencies in sworn statements that Dr Tran had submitted, and pointed to emails which he said showed Dr Tran was "curating" facts.
The barrister accused Dr Tran of misleading the court and rejected claims about forced resignation.
"For all the assertion of no choice but to resign, oppressive, coercive, so difficult … there is a resignation in writing whilst receiving personal leave," Mr Harrington said.
"It doesn't stack up."
Judge Simone Bingham has reserved her decision.