12 results for 'cat:"Education" AND cat:"Defamation"'.
J. McFadden allows the white former student, who is proceeding pro se, to pursue some of his claims against Howard University, an historically Black law school. A statement made by the Dean of the Law School accusing the former student of saying “African-Americans suffer from hive mind” is actionable, so the former student can pursue a defamation claim based on this. For similar reasons, his defamation claim alleging that the dean accused him of harassment also survives. The former student’s contract claims also survive to the extent that they are based on allegations that a professor changed the grading system to target the former student and that the university failed to correct a racially hostile education environment. All of his race discrimination and tortious interference claims fail.
Court: USDC District of Columbia, Judge: McFadden, Filed On: September 18, 2024, Case #: 1:23cv436, NOS: Education - Civil Rights, Categories: education, defamation, Contract
J. Suddaby enters judgment in favor of Cornell University on a former assistant professor’s defamation claim, while preserving his claim for Title IX gender-based discrimination for trial. His complaint stems from allegations that he lied about having a romantic relationship with a female student, which resulted in a two-week unpaid suspension. The former professor provides enough detail in which a jury could conclude the university’s handling of its investigation, plus its decision to suspend him, was motivated by anti-male bias. His defamation claim, however, fails because his complaint lacks any evidence showing the university published any defamatory statements to third parties.
Court: USDC Northern District of New York, Judge: Suddaby, Filed On: September 10, 2024, Case #: 3:18cv1124, NOS: Other Civil Rights - Civil Rights, Categories: Civil Rights, education, defamation
J. Bassett affirms the dismissal of a parent’s defamation and invasion of privacy claims against an op-ed writer who named him in an op-ed criticizing opponents of critical race theory being taught in public schools. The statements the parent takes issue with are non-actionable opinions which cannot be proven false. Affirmed.
Court: New Hampshire Supreme Court, Judge: Bassett, Filed On: September 4, 2024, Case #: 2022-0197, Categories: Civil Rights, education, defamation
J. Lane finds that the trial court improperly denied a teacher’s defamation claim against a preparatory school principal after an exit interview, even though the teacher’s complaint contained sufficient assertions and preliminary objections in a demurrer. The jury received adequate instruction on the presumption of at-will employment. This case is remanded for further proceedings on the defamation claim. Affirmed in part. Reversed in part.
Court: Pennsylvania Superior Court, Judge: Lane, Filed On: August 23, 2024, Case #: J-A14037-24, Categories: education, Employment, defamation
J. Siragusa dismisses claims challenging a school district's decision to suspend a student after another student reported seeing "im gonna BOMB the school" written in a unisex bathroom stall because school officials acted in their official duties upon investigating the message, and the family could have filed a proceeding in state court challenging the underlying appeal. Meanwhile, defamation claims would be better litigated in state court.
Court: USDC Western District of New York, Judge: Siragusa , Filed On: June 13, 2024, Case #: 6:22cv6086, NOS: Education - Civil Rights, Categories: education, defamation, Jurisdiction
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J. Beales finds a lower court did not err when it found that a teacher and football coach had not shown he was defamed by a school report that found he had “loudly uttered numerous statements incorporating profanity around students.” Because the allegedly defamatory statements were made as part of an official report, the officials’ statements were “entitled to qualified privilege and, therefore, could not be defamatory.” Affirmed.
Court: Virginia Court Of Appeals, Judge: Beales, Filed On: May 7, 2024, Case #: 0702-23-3, Categories: education, defamation
J. Roman finds for the school district on a student's defamation and civil rights claims stemming from his five-day suspension for posting a photo of himself in a parking lot while his friend knelt above him with the caption "Cops got another" one day before the jury returned a verdict in Derek Chauvin's trial for the murder of George Floyd. The student received death threats after posting the photo, which was decried as racist, and the incident was a substantial disruption to the school, sparking a student demonstration and a school assembly. The district has an interest in maintaining order within its schools and therefore did not infringe on the student's free speech rights by disciplining him.
Court: USDC Southern District of New York, Judge: Roman, Filed On: April 5, 2024, Case #: 7:21cv6008, NOS: Other Civil Rights - Civil Rights, Categories: education, defamation, First Amendment
J. Dever grants a female student’s motion to transfer litigation from North Carolina to Louisiana in a suit she brought against a male student for sexual assault. Both students attended Tulane University in Louisiana at the time of the alleged assault, although the male student now resides in North Carolina. After the female student initiated litigation against the male student, he counter-sued for defamation and also sued Tulane for breach of contract as he was dismissed from the university one month before graduation. Weighing all factors in the case, the litigation involving the female student will be transferred to Louisiana where the suit against Tulane is already taking place.
Court: USDC Eastern District of North Carolina, Judge: Dever, Filed On: March 28, 2024, Case #: 5:22cv500, NOS: Assault, Libel, & Slander - Torts - Personal Injury, Categories: education, defamation, Assault
J. Sannes preserves claims for hostile work environment and Title IX gender discrimination against St. Lawrence University, who was sued by a sociology professor who claims she was drugged and raped by a fellow professor at his off-campus home. The court finds the complaint successfully imputes liability for the sexual assault onto the university under Title XI on the basis of deliberate indifference before and after the assault, and further sufficiently alleges that the alleged perpetrator’s actions after the sexual assault were threatening and constituted a hostile work environment. Additionally, the court trims a countercomplaint filed by the alleged perpetrator and preserves a single claim for defamation regarding Facebook posts she made alleging she was a victim of rape.
Court: USDC Southern District of New York, Judge: Sannes, Filed On: March 14, 2024, Case #: 8:23cv426, NOS: Employment - Civil Rights, Categories: education, defamation, Assault
J. Ellis grants in part a group of employees from the University of Illinois Chicago motion to dismiss defamation and false light claims brought by a law professor alleging retaliation and compelled speech. The professor’s alleged racist statements fail to constitute speech of public concern, so his retaliation claim shall be dismissed. UIC employees therefore have qualified immunity on the compelled speech claims, so they are dismissed in their individual capacities. All other claims are dismissed.
Court: USDC Northern District of Illinois, Judge: Ellis, Filed On: November 1, 2023, Case #: 1:22cv475, NOS: Other Civil Rights - Civil Rights, Categories: education, Employment, defamation
J. Raggi answers certified questions by finding that the district court improperly dismissed state defamation and tortious interference claims stemming from accusations of rape that defendant, a Yale University student, brought against plaintiff, a co-ed. Disciplinary proceedings held by the college were not quasi-judicial, and thus defendant did not have immunity concerning statements made therein. However, the lower court properly dismissed claims contending the initial report to campus officials interfered with plaintiff's contract to attend the school in light of his immediate suspension because that claim was untimely filed.
Court: 2nd Circuit, Judge: Raggi, Filed On: October 25, 2023, Case #: 21-95, Categories: education, defamation, Interference With Contract