AUGUSTA (AP) — A Vassalboro man has filed suit after a check for $100,000 he received from a former University of Maine professor days before his death was canceled by the professor’s personal representative.

According to the suit filed in Kennebec County Superior Court, Daniel Toto Jr. received the check from John Nickerson on May 19.

Nickerson, professor emeritus of political science and public administration at the University of Maine-Augusta, died a week later at age 75.

Toto’s suit says when he tried to deposit the check two days later, he was denied. The suit says Nickerson’s personal representative, Jeffrey Mills, contacted the bank to dispute the authenticity of the signature.

Toto’s lawyer told the Kennebec Journal (http://bit.ly/1cgDfxI ) the men were longtime friends.

Nickerson has no known surviving relatives.

Mills’ lawyer refused comment.