Christopher Johnson and the IdahoCredit Union League parted ways four months ago.

Next month, their paths will cross again in an Idaho courtroom.

Johnson, who was fired in November from the Idaho League after only five monthson the job as president/CEO, is suing the league for $4,700 inunreimbursed business expenses, according to a court document filedby Johnson in Idaho Fourth District Court's small claims departmentin Boise. The suit's court date is scheduled for 10 a.m. on April11.

Johnson, of Reno, Nev., spoke exclusively to CU Timesabout how he was dismissed from the job, why he thinks he was letgo and why he's suing for expenses.

Johnson began working at the league's Boise office in Juneafter the retirement of President/CEO Alan Cameron.

Johnson left the Idaho League on Nov. 22. The league did notmake a public announcement, but informed its member credit unionsand appointed then league vice president Kathy Thomson interimpresident/CEO.

“Two members of the board came to my office and told methat the board had reconsidered its decision to hire me and that itno longer wanted me to lead the league,” Johnson told CUTimes.

He said board members did not provide him with specific reasonsfor their decision.

“One of them apologized for the board's actions, and the othershed more than a few tears,” Johnson said. “They seemed veryconflicted about what they were doing. This is speculation, but Ibelieve that the board's action (was) related to their initial CEOsearch process and decision.”

Johnson believes some of the board members wanted to hireanother candidate for the league's top job.

“His candidacy must have had strong support among some membersof the board, who would have been disappointed at my selection asCEO,” Johnson said. “So I believe that the result of the CEO searchmay have colored the willingness of some of the board members tosupport me. There may have been unreconciled differences amongaboard members about what they sought in a CEO and the vision thatthey had for the future of the league.”

Shane Berger, board chair and president/CEOof the $178 million Beehive Credit Union in Rexburg, Idaho, saidJohnson's speculation is off the mark.

“Chris can speculate but his speculation is inaccurate,” Bergersaid. “I won't even comment whether he was fired or whether heleft. I will just say he doesn't work for the league anymore andthere may be an appropriate time to disclose the reason why hedoesn't work at the Idaho Credit Union League, but today is notthat day.”

When asked when he would disclose that information, Berger saidhe didn't know, adding that “there may be an appropriate time,there may not be.”

“The board is unified in our perception of Chris's performancewhile he was the Idaho Credit Union League CEO,” Berger said. “Now,that doesn't tell you whether he was fired or whether he left onhis own.”

Berger also said Johnson's departure has nothing to do with theinterviewing and hiring process.

He noted that Kathy Thomson was not even a candidate for the league'spresident/CEO position when the board was searching for a newpresident/CEO last year. Thomson was appointed as the league's newleader on Feb. 11.

Regarding the lawsuit, the Idaho league said it reimbursedJohnson for some business expenses, but it did not reimburse himfor other expenses because he did not provide documentationrequired by league policy.

On Jan. 29, Johnson filed his small claims lawsuit for hisunreimbursed business expenses claiming misrepresentation,detrimental reliance and conversion against the Idaho league.

“Those are the legal basis of my claim, which is for unpaidroutine and reasonable business (travel) expenses,” said Johnson,who is a lawyer that served as a managing associate general counselfor Freddie Mac prior to working as vice president of stategovernmental affairs at CUNA from 2006 to 2010.

“The league has converted my money to its own uses, money that Iearned,” Johnson said. “I paid the expenses out of my own pocket.It (the league) misrepresented its expense and reimbursementpolicies, and I relied upon them, which is how the league came toconvert my money to its own uses.”

After Johnson left, Berger said the league received andfulfilled several requests for reimbursement of expenses of asubstantial amount.

“We reimbursed Chris for all the expenses that were properlydocumented,” Berger said. “We had some questions and concernsabout some expenses that have remained unreimbursed today. We askedfor additional documentation prior to reimbursement for thoseexpenses, but we didn't refuse to reimburse him for anything. Weasked for further documentation and none was provided.”

Berger added it is against the league policy to reimburseexpenses without proper documentation.