The $450G dismissal

So it cost the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey more than $450,000 in legal fees to build its case to fire Dr. R. Michael Gallagher, the former dean of its School of Osteopathic Medicine. That's more than the exorbitant $381,000 he was drawing in salary. But the cost, albeit high, was justified by Robert Del Tufo, chairman of the UMDNJ trustees, as necessary to ensure an airtight case. The law firm had to pay an investigator to get the job done right.

There's got to be a less expensive way: the lawyers at the attorney general's office. The A.G. is responsible for unearthing wrongdoing by state employees. He has investigators, too. Going after the Dean Gallaghers of the state - and his colleague in scamming the system, state Sen. Wayne R. Bryant, D-Camden - belongs in the A.G.'s office, at the salaries deputy attorneys general earn. There's no need to outsource this work.