University |

Supreme Court

Justices set aside university free speech challenge

Amid the debate over free speech on university campuses, the justices on Monday set aside a decision by a federal appeals court in a case involving whether so-called “bias-response team policies” – procedures created by universities to solicit, track, and investigate reports of bias – chill students’ speech.

The order in Speech First v. Sands was part of a list of orders from the court’s private conference last week.

Over a dissent by Justice Clarence Thomas that was joined … Read the rest

Criminal Law

Former San Jose State University Director of Sports Medicine Pleads Guilty to Groping Female Students

The former director of sports medicine at San Jose State University was sentenced to two years in prison for groping female student-athletes who were seeking medical care, reports Phil Helsel for NBC News. Scott Shaw pleaded guilty in August to two counts of deprivation of rights under color of law as part of a plea agreement.

Shaw admitted to touching the breasts and buttocks of four student-athletes without a medical reason and without their consent. Six student-athletes testified during … Read the rest

Supreme Court

Ohio State asks court to toss lawsuits over sexual abuse by former university physician

The Petitions of the Week column highlights a selection of cert petitions recently filed in the Supreme Court. A list of all petitions we’re watching is available here.

Over a period of 20 years, the late Dr. Richard Strauss sexually abused at least 177 male students in his role as a physician with the Ohio State University’s athletics department and student health center. This week, we highlight cert petitions that ask the court to consider, among other things, … Read the rest

Supreme Court

A business perspective: Diversity in university admissions is a compelling interest

This article is part of a symposium on the upcoming arguments in Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina and Students for Fair Admissions v. President & Fellows of Harvard College. A preview of the case is here.

Michael R. Dreeben is a partner and Natalie Camastra and Kelly Kambourelis are associates at O’Melveny & Myers LLP. They were counsel on an amicus brief supporting UNC and Harvard.

The business case for diversity in university admissions … Read the rest

Supreme Court

Yeshiva University won’t be forced to recognize LGBTQ club for now

Justice Sonia Sotomayor on Friday afternoon granted, at least for now, a request by Yeshiva University to block a New York state court ruling that directed the university to approve an official “Pride Alliance” student club. The university, which has four campuses in New York City, had argued that complying with the state court’s ruling would violate its religious beliefs.

Yeshiva’s request went to Sotomayor because she is initially responsible for emergency appeals from the geographic region that includes … Read the rest

Class Action

Moen v. Regents of the University of California

(California Court of Appeal) – Reversed decertification of a class of retired University of California employees who claimed they were denied promised health insurance benefits. The retirees, who had worked at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, appealed the trial court’s ruling that decertified the class for lack of commonality. On appeal, the First Appellate District held that the trial court’s decertification ruling had relied on erroneous legal standards.
FindLaw Opinion Summaries – Class Action

… Read the rest