Law Students
Law Grad Accused of Faking E-Mail to Implicate Prof in Harassment
Posted Nov 21, 2008, 08:47 am CST
By Debra Cassens Weiss
A graduate of Florida Coastal law school is facing a criminal charge and a slander suit based on accusations that she created a fake e-mail implicating a professor in sexual harassment.
Laurie Green was arrested on Wednesday, reports News4Jax.com. Police claim she gave law school administrators a phony e-mail in March that appeared to be sent by her professor after she rebuffed his sexual advances. The professor, Mike Jorgensen, claims in a slander suit filed the same day that he was forced to resign because of the phony message, the story says.
According to police, the e-mail read: "Laurie, I have given thought to your decision from the other night and I have decided that if this is still your decision then I will not be able to give you favorable references."
Jorgensen told the TV station that he had both a personal and professional relationship with Green, his research assistant, but, “I was never out of line with the student.” He believes the e-mail was apparently created "as a pre-emptive move to try to avoid a bad reference on my part."
Green’s lawyer, Hank Coxe, told News4Jax.com that his client has pleaded not guilty. "Given all the circumstances, I am bewildered Mr. Jorgensen would want any of this aired in the public domain," he said.
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