MADISON, Wis. – A University of Wisconsin assistant dean took a student under his wing after the student’s mother was struck and killed by a drunk driver in 2013.

As it turns out, the assistant dean – Tori Richardson – had been texting with the drunk driver shortly before he struck the student’s mother, and never bothered to share that fact with the grieving student, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

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Now the student, Megan Mengelt, is suing Richardson over his lack of disclosure about the role he played.

Richardson received a light punishment from the university – a 30-day unpaid suspension – for his actions. In a statement the university said Richardson was “not meeting the university’s professional standards,” according to a post on Madison.com.

The drunk driver was a Methodist minister named Bruce Burnside. He registered a blood alcohol level far above the legal limit after hitting Mengelt’s mother, who was jogging, the Journal Sentinel reported. He was on his way to a church function at the time of the incident.

While driving intoxicated, Burnside was exchanging “flirtatious” texts with Richardson, whom he had met at a party a few days earlier, according to the newspaper. Burnside was eventually sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Richardson learned about the drunk driving incident a few days after it happened. He reached out to Mengelt, whom he had never met before, to offer personal and academic counseling, while never divulging his connection with Burnside, or the fact that he had been texting him just before the deadly incident occurred.

Mengelt responded by “telling Richardson that she was going through the most difficult experience of her life” and accepted his offer to help, according Madison.com.

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“It wasn’t until 21 months later, in January 2015, that the Mengelt family obtained police reports identifying Richardson as the person texting with Burnside just before he struck the mother of three,” the Journal Sentinel wrote. “This caused Megan Mengelt severe emotional distress, the lawsuit claims.

“The suit says Richardson was negligent in counseling Mengelt and in failing to reveal his connection to Burnside. It also alleges that Mengelt trusted Richardson enough to confide in him about her feelings, but also to reveal information sought by Richardson about the ongoing criminal case against Burnside, as well as the wrongful death suit the family planned.

“In depositions, Burnside and Richardson have said they did not discuss these matters, though they remained in touch after the accident. The civil suit against Burnside is scheduled for trial in July.

“Richardson, in his deposition, was asked if he ever thought about the emotional consequences for Megan if she learned of his role the day her mother was killed. He asked to have a private word with his lawyer, and then answered, ‘The quick response will be no.’”