Former University of Maryland School of Law dean Karen Rothenberg is being investigated for questionable payments she received during her tenure at the school. A routine audit of the university uncovered a $350,000 payment to Rothenberg for a sabbatical leave she did not take. Rothenberg received an annual salary of $360,000 in 2007, the same year she took the additional sabbatical leave money. The money was approved by university president David J. Ramsay. The university did not have a policy that allowed payments to employees for unused sabbatical time. Those who take sabbatical leave are required to document their work. The audit found that Rothenberg was paid an additional $60,000 for summer research between 2007 and 2009. Those payments were approved by one of her subordinate employees.

Rothenberg refused to comment publicly about the questionable payments and retained the services of DLA Piper partner Paul Tiburzi. The University of Maryland is investigating the audit findings. State legislators have scheduled a hearing before the House appropriations committee on Thursday and a second hearing on Monday before the Senate committee on budget and taxation in regards to the matter.