An electrical engineering professor at Notre Dame University has been fired after it is alleged he spent nearly $200,000 in federal grant money and university funds to purchase equipment to take pornographic images.

Oliver Collins, who now lives in Key West, Florida, is now fighting his firing, citing breaching "breach of contract"

Notre Dame claims the professor used money from a National Science Foundation grant and matching university funds to purchase seven digital cameras, surveillance cameras, lenses, oversized printer and computer equipment.

“Collins took many of these cameras and accessories to his home and used them extensively in pursuit of his personal hobby, including taking landscape and pornographic photographs,” the university said in its response.

Collins, who worked at the university since 1995, claims that the university wrongfully fired him and can't prove he was the person who took the pornographic images.

Although the sexual images were discovered on computers he was responsible for, Collins claims he did not know about them, stating several people had access to the same computers.

Collins filed a lawsuit in July stating that his professional and personal reputation has suffered.

He seeks more than $75,000 in damages.

The professor said the university failed to prove the exact reasons he was fired.

The university denies this.

Responding to Collins' lawsuit, the university has filed a similar suit on August 19 claiming it has incurred damages of more than $140,000 plus the money the university spent on the investigation.

The university is seeking Collins to pay these costs.

Collins had been suspended with pay since Aug. 24, 2009, when he was locked out of his office and lab.

A preliminary pre-trial conference is scheduled for Sept. 21 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christopher Nuechterlein.