MADISON, Wis. -- A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by a former University of Wisconsin-Madison administrator who claimed that he was illegally forced to use sick leave and vacation pay to cover a seven-month absence.

U.S. District Judge John Shabaz said that Chancellor John Wiley acted lawfully when he forced Paul Barrows to use his own assets to cover the leave.

Barrows is the school's former vice chancellor for student affairs who claimed that he should have been put into a backup job that he was guaranteed in his contract or put on paid leave instead.

Wiley asked Barrows to resign in November 2004 after learning about an inappropriate relationship Barrows had with a graduate student and other allegations against him.

Shabaz ruled Barrows didn't show he was entitled to be put into his backup job or that he suffered any economic harm.