Name That Verdict

School's liability in bullying gets another test

By Paul Katula •
Parents of a deceased bullying victim are suing the school, claiming school officials did too little to stop the bullying. The school argues that they're not liable based on a Supreme Court case from 1999.

1st Amendment safe in political patronage jobs

By Paul Katula •
A 3-judge panel on the Seventh Circuit found that a city could demote a commissioner based on his political affiliation. Doing so does not violate the commissioner's 1st-Amendment rights.

Judge allows UCLA to post purchased videos online

By Paul Katula •
A federal district judge in California dismissed with prejudice a claim brought by educational video manufacturers against UCLA. They tried to bar the university from posting purchased educational videos on the Internet.

Facebook, IL Liquor Control Act of 1934 may collide

By Paul Katula •
Changes to the Illinois Liquor Control Act of 1934 will make parents and guardians who own private property where underage drinking occurs guilty of a Class A misdemeanor, starting Jan. 1.

Did Fairfax Cty. board waste taxes to go after a teacher?

By Paul Katula •
The case of a Virginia teacher, falsely accused of child sex abuse, underscores the waste by school districts on legal fees, the destruction of the career of an innocent man, and the need to get real help for true victims of child sex abuse in our schools.

Student sues to distribute fliers for birthday party

By Paul Katula •
The US Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit heard arguments in a case involving a student whose school district barred her from distributing fliers for her birthday party, held at her church.

Freedom of speech, religion in cheerleading sign

By Paul Katula •
A Texas high school cheerleading group is using religious sayings and texts to inspire their team, and a court is allowing it temporarily while it considers both sides of the First-Amendment debate.

Nat’l Assoc. of Basketball Coaches files amicus brief in affirmative action case

By Press Release •
The National Association of Basketball Coaches has filed an amicus ("friend of the Court") brief with the US Supreme Court in the case of a white girl who was denied admission to the University of Texas, Austin, but says she was more qualified than many of the African-American students who were admitted, because the university uses race as one of the factors in deciding admission.

Alleged retaliation against a teacher who blew whistle

By Paul Katula •
A Maryland special ed teacher is suing his former school district, whose employees he says retaliated against him when he tried to report a security guard at the school who was shaking down his special ed students for money.