Education Law

Suit Blames School and Bullies for Girl’s Anorexia, Cites Title IX

A lawsuit filed against the Pittsburgh Public Schools claims a straight-A student developed anorexia because bullies taunted the girl about her weight and school officials did nothing to stop it. The suit filed by lawyer Edward Olds says the girl was bullied in sixth and seventh grade, the Associated Press…

Aug 20, 2009 2:06 PM CDT

Va. Tech Gunman Never Treated Despite Court Order, Mental Health Records Show

Mental health records released today for the gunman who massacred 32 people at Virginia Tech in April 2007 before killing himself show that he was never treated by the school’s counseling center despite multiple “triage” evaluations and a court order requiring that Seung-Hui Cho receive treatment. The records had been…

Aug 19, 2009 11:21 PM CDT

Accused of Discrimination, Football Coach Sues for Libel, Is Accused of Retaliation

After an attorney for a longtime worker at the University of New Mexico spoke to a local newspaper about her client’s discrimination lawsuit against a well-known football coach and the university, he sued the lawyer and her client for defamation. Now attorney Whitney Warner is threatening to pursue a retaliation…

Aug 19, 2009 10:25 PM CDT

Unemployed Grad Sues College for Failing to Get Her a Job

College graduate Trina Thompson has filed a $70,000 lawsuit that contends her school didn’t do enough to get her a job. Thompson filed the suit against Monroe College in a Bronx court on July 24, the New York Post reports. The suit claims the school’s career office didn’t give her…

Aug 3, 2009 3:43 PM CDT

Sounds of Silence

Mandatory moments stir latest legal rumbling

Aug 2, 2009 1:40 AM CDT

Reopen Va. Tech Probe, Add Gunman’s Medical File Info, Families Urge

Following news last week that the long-missing mental health file had been found for the gunman who massacred 32 people in a 2007 shooting rampage at Virginia Tech, injured survivors and family members of those who died are urging that an investigation be reopened. They are calling on Va. Gov.…

Jul 28, 2009 10:51 PM CDT

Will Credit Card Snafu Keep Disabled Law Grad from Taking Calif. Bar?

The California bar exam starts tomorrow, and the last word from officials was that Sara Granda wouldn’t be allowed to take it. The quadriplegic woman, who is indigent and receiving disability benefits, paid the more than $600 fee with a state-issued check, and hence the bar exam form she filed…

Jul 27, 2009 9:52 PM CDT

Virginia Tech Gunman’s Missing Counseling File Found in Doctor’s Home

A missing file for the gunman who killed 32 people in a 2007 shooting rampage at Virginia Tech has been discovered in the home of a former director for the college’s counseling center. An announcement that the the file had been located was made this morning by Gov. Timothy Kaine,…

Jul 22, 2009 7:09 PM CDT

Taking Pass on Wis. Bar Exam Could Be Unconstitutional, 7th Circuit Says

A federal court has revived a class action lawsuit over a unique Wisconsin attorney admission rule that admits newly minted graduates of state law schools to practice without requiring them to take the bar exam. Those who graduated from law schools in other states but wish to practice in Wisconsin…

Jul 13, 2009 8:56 PM CDT

No More Pencils, No More Facebooks

Schools and students battle over out-of-class Internet files

Jul 2, 2009 2:30 AM CDT

Roberts Stresses Immunity for School Officials in Latest Ruling

Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. doesn’t see a conflict in two recent Supreme Court rulings on the authority of high school administrators to regulate students’ conduct. The decisions differed on the propriety of actions by school officials, but the most recent decision finding a constitutional violation in a student…

Jun 29, 2009 12:30 PM CDT

Unqualified Law Student Admitted in Exchange for Promise of 5 Jobs

The most prestigious Illinois public university took another hit to its reputation Thursday when it released e-mail messages that show an unqualified, but politically connected law student was admitted to the University of Illinois in exchange for a promise that other students would find gainful employment upon graduation. The documents—released…

Jun 26, 2009 10:11 AM CDT

Mom Accused of Altering Daughter’s Grades Faces Felony Charges

A Pennsylvania mother who worked as a secretary at her daughter’s Huntingdon County high school has been criminally charged with altering hundreds of grades, including those of a few classmates, in order to enhance her daughter’s academic standing. Caroline Maria McNeal, 39, is also accused of inflating her daughter’s score…

Jun 25, 2009 9:48 PM CDT

School’s Strip Search of Girl Illegal, High Court Rules

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled today that an Arizona school’s strip search of a teenager accused of dispensing prescription-strength pills was illegal. On that, eight justices agreed (PDF). Safford Middle School officials crossed a line when they searched Savana Redding’s underwear. Justice Clarence Thomas was the only dissent. What was…

Jun 25, 2009 3:19 PM CDT

N.Y. to Sue Private Lawyer ‘Employed’ By 6 School Districts for $2M Reimbursement

A state and federal probe of claimed pension abuse by some New York lawyers in private practice has just heated up further. New York’s attorney general, Andrew Cuomo, says the state will sue a Long Island lawyer whose story sparked a statewide investigation for civil fraud, seeking reimbursement from Lawrence…

Jun 23, 2009 1:05 AM CDT