The Lawsuit
Settman v. University of North Carolina at Asheville
The Complaint
On February 21, 2025, Aidan filed a lawsuit under the state whistleblower statute against UNC Asheville and Emma Olson, who has served as interim director of the NC Center for Health & Wellness since December 2023. The complaint alleges falsification of publicly funded health research, grant fraud, and the retaliation that followed Aidan's written report. ​
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The Answers
On April 28, 2025, Attorney General Jeff Jackson and Special Deputy Elizabeth Jenkins responded to the complaint on behalf of the NCCHW and UNC Asheville. The defense denies all allegations and argues that Aidan is ineligible for protection because he was labeled an independent contractor and not a state employee.
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The Motion to Dismiss
On May 27, 2025, the Buncombe County Superior Court Judge Allen Thornburg dismissed the case, concluding that because the defense labeled Aidan as an independent contractor rather than an employee, he was not eligible for whistleblower protections.​
The Appellate Court
On February 26, 2026, Aidan and his legal counsel filed their opening brief in the appellate court, addressing the misclassification of Aidan's work status and the implications of allowing state agencies to evade the N.C. whistleblower statute by intentionally misclassifying state workers as contractors. ​​