what kind of lawyer do i need to sue an university

by Prof. Eda Bergstrom 3 min read

You want an admin law attorney who has specific experience in university discipline matters, hopefully one who has prior experience with your university (an enormous advantage). This is a very specialized niche of legal practice and a lot of the procedures and rules are very counter-intuitive, even for general litigation attorneys. Helpful

If you decide to file a lawsuit against the college or university, a government attorney will be essential to helping you navigate through the complicated legal system.Mar 12, 2018

Full Answer

What kind of lawyer do I need to sue a school?

 · You want an admin law attorney who has specific experience in university discipline matters, hopefully one who has prior experience with your university (an enormous advantage). This is a very specialized niche of legal practice and a lot of the procedures and rules are very counter-intuitive, even for general litigation attorneys.

Can I sue a college or university?

You may wish to consult with an attorney to find out whether you are able to sue a college or university in your state. If you decide to file a lawsuit against the college or university, a government attorney will be essential to helping you navigate through the …

Should I hire a lawyer for a campus safety lawsuit?

Courts and lawmakers are still debating whether colleges and universities should be held to a higher standard of care, and tort laws vary widely across state lines. Therefore, if you are involved in a campus safety lawsuit, you should strongly consider hiring a local personal injury lawyer for further legal guidance.

Do I need a government attorney to file a college lawsuit?

 · Richard Asselta is an award-winning education lawyer with offices in both Florida and New Jersey. He is experienced in defending students in all types of issues including college suspension and expulsions. Call The Education Lawyers today for a free consultation. We will fight to protect your future. 855-338-5299.

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What are the best things to sue for?

Here are 11 top reasons to sue someone.Compensation for Damages. A common form of this is monetary compensation for personal injury. ... Enforcing a Contract. Contracts can be written, oral or implied. ... Breach of Warranty. ... Product Liability. ... Property Disputes. ... Divorce. ... Custody Disputes. ... Replacing a Trustee.More items...

How do I start sue sue?

Talk to the person or business you are thinking about suing. Try to work things out before going to court....If you decide to go to court, follow these steps:Figure Out How to Name the Defendant.Ask for Payment.Find the Right Court to File Your Claim.Fill Out Your Court Forms.File Your Claim.Serve Your Claim.Go to Court.

What are the easiest things to sue for?

The law must support your contention that you were harmed by the illegal actions of another.Bad Debt. A type of contract case. ... Breach of Contract. ... Breach of Warranty. ... Failure to Return a Security Deposit. ... Libel or Slander (Defamation). ... Nuisance. ... Personal Injury. ... Product Liability.More items...

Can you file a lawsuit without a lawyer?

You are not required to have a lawyer when you file a criminal case, but you may choose to have one assist you in the process. When filing a criminal case, you will have to prepare your complaint-affidavit accompanied by the affidavits of your witnesses and other evidence proving the alleged violation of a crime.

What can you sue for emotional distress?

It may be possible for you to sue for emotional distress, depending on your situation. The main factor that will mean you can make a claim is whether someone's negligence caused the harm you first suffered. This could be because you were hurt in an accident that was someone else's fault.

Is suing someone worth it?

Is Going to Court Worth It? Again, it just depends on the specifics of your case. If you have a strong case and a good attorney, suing a person might be worth the costs. But if your case isn't as clear and you don't have a large budget, you may want to think twice before going to court.

Can I sue anyone for anything?

As long as your complaint meets the criteria and you have sufficient evidence, yes, you can virtually sue for anything. Just because you plan to sue someone, it doesn't mean that you will win your case. This is where you need the help of an experienced attorney who can determine how you should proceed.

What kind of damages can you sue for in small claims court?

What Kinds of Cases Go to Small Claims Court?Breach of contract disputes.Personal injury claims (such as dog bites)Collection on debts or loan repayments.Professional negligence claims (like bad car repairs)Claims regarding the return of a renter's security deposit or personal property.More items...•

Can I sue a college for injuries?

Can I Sue a College or University for Injuries? Yes, private colleges and universities are treated as private corporations, and can both sue and be sued. However, universities or colleges which are public or semi-public can generally not be sued, unless state statute or the state legislature has authorized it.

Can school officials be sued?

One view is that state school officials cannot be sued for their normal work activities. State employees are immune unless they acted outside of the scope of their responsibilities, or they acted with malicious purpose, bad faith, or in a reckless manner.

Do school officials have immunity?

Another view is that state school officials have qualified immunity as long as their actions were reasonable. This means that to have immunity the employee must be able to show that he or she was acting within the scope of his or her discretionary authority, and that he or she was acting in good faith.

Can a private university be sued for breach of contract?

Can I Sue My School for Breach of Contract? Private universities can be sued for breach of contract, as can public universities when allowed by statute or the state legislature. However, in some states you may only make a breach of contract claim, or any claim, against a public university when it does not enjoy immunity.

How to sue a college for injuries?

If an individual intends to sue a college or university for their injuries, they must first be able to prove that the school was negligent in failing to keep its campus and students safe. One way to show this is by bringing a claim for premises liability.

What evidence should be used to prove that a college or university should be held liable for injuries?

Evidence that may support a claim that a college or university should be held liable for injuries include: Demonstrating that the institution was aware of the threat to safety or problem by using witnesses, prior incidents, and correspondence (e.g., if students consistently receive campus safety alerts).

How to determine if a school is negligent?

Some factors that may determine whether the school was negligent and thus may be held accountable include whether it could foresee that the student may be a threat to others, how much control the school had over its students during the time and in the location of where the incident took place, and whether the school was aware that it needed more safety measures (e.g., campus security).

What are some examples of unsafe conditions on campus?

Submitting pictures or videos that show unsafe campus conditions, such as rusty sports equipment, broken fences, and lack of lighting along pathways at night.

Can an institution be held liable for alcohol?

Crimes involving alcohol (e.g., underage drinking). Whether an institution can be held liable will depend on a variety of factors, which will be discussed in further detail below. However, there are a number of other parties besides the institution who can be held responsible as well, including: The students;

Can a student sue a college for a cafeteria?

So, while it is clear that a student who slips and falls in their institution’s poorly maintained cafeteria will be able to sue that institution, it is not as straightforward when a random act of violence occurs on a college campus.

Can you sue a public university?

Rather than being viewed as a private entity, public institutions are typically considered a form of government entity instead. An individual may be able to sue a public or semi-public institution, so as long as it is permitted in the jurisdiction where the school is located.

Why do students call me wanting to sue my college?

Students often call me wanting to sue their college. The reasons vary. Some have been kicked out or expelled from their program. Other students have been suspended or put on probation and they cannot attend classes. Some students feel that the school lied to them to get them to enroll. After enrolling, the program was not what was promised.

Can a demand letter be written for a lawsuit?

A well-written demand letter could achieve the same results in days or weeks versus years for a lawsuit. Sometimes suing a public school or private school is necessary and letters will not get the job done. But explore your options first. Make sure whatever lawyer you speak to goes through all of your options – not just ...

William J Popovich

If the school is accredited you got what you paid for. Some school is always the "worst of the legal". But still legal. Unfortunately, the time to check how "people look at them" is in online research before you commit to go. But if they are accredited she should be able to find an LPN to RN program, just maybe not the one she wants to use.

Matthew Scott Berkus

Probably no recourse, if the school is accredited (which it is, schools cannot operate for long without accreditation), there is little to know recourse. How the market views a program is not something in the school's control.

Eliot M. Wolf

Education lawyer may be able to help if the school made material misrepresentations. If they were a recognized accredited program this may be difficult.

What to do before you talk to a lawyer?

Before you talk to a lawyer, make an appointment to talk to whatever governing body controls your school especially if this is a public school. You could also go to the dean of your college or the college's president to see if something can be worked out.

What does a legal team need to show in advance?

Typically, any legal team trying to get a case in front of Judicial review will need to show in advance their case will meet at least (1) of the (3) criteria above. On cases revolving around arbitrary or capricious decision making, these cases often make due process clause arguments from the US constitution.

What to do if all else fails?

If all else fails, publicly shame the institution for what its worth - you are entitled to your opinions.

Can I get a job after graduation?

If you enrolled under duress or false promises of a job after graduation, yes. If you were guaranteed a ROI on your investment, yes.

Can you be unfairly treated during exams?

If you faced an unfair treatment during exams which put you at a disadvantage while attending any courses, yes.

Can enrollment agreements be breached?

Yes. The enrollment agreement is a contract, so they can be found in breach of contract. There are also issues with truth in advertising.

Can I sue a university?

Well, you would need a legal basis to sue the university of course. I suggest that you talk to a lawyer to (a) make sure you in fact have a legal basis and (b) to actually manage the potential suit for you. You will want to look for someone who focuses on whatever it is you want to sue about. An education lawyer if you are talking about matters related specifically to your education, a personal injury lawyer if you were hurt, a civil rights attorney if your rights have been violated, and so on.

Why is it important to consult with a school law attorney?

It is very important to consult with a school law attorney if you feel you may have a cause of action to sue a private school, private college, or private university. Having an education lawyer on your side is the first step in trying to right a private schools wrongs.

What is negligence in school?

Negligence means that the school had a duty to you. Perhaps it was a duty to provide you with certain things, or a duty to follow its policies, or a duty to keep you safe. If the school fails or “breaches” that duty, you may be able to assert a negligence claim. There are simply too many scenarios to go into that may bring about a negligence claim. These kind of negligence claims are typically not the same as getting in a car accident, so a lawyer who is familiar with education law and school law is essential to assist you.These are just three of the most popular actions that could be brought against a private school, private college, or private university in a lawsuit. This list is by no means exhaustive and there are certainly other causes of action that might be brought against a private institution. Every case is unique, so the type of claim or claims that can be brought depends on your specific situation. It is very important to consult with a school law attorney if you feel you may have a cause of action to sue a private school, private college, or private university. Having an education lawyer on your side is the first step in trying to right a private schools wrongs.

What happens if you don't get into a private school?

When you enter a private school, you usually sign some type of admission agreement or other document. You then pay money to the school and in return, expect certain things. If the school does not provide you with those things, you probably have a claim for breach of contract.

Can a private school be sued?

However, being a private school or private college, does not exempt them from being sued by those they have wronged. Here are the top three most common claims for a lawsuit that can be filed against private schools, private universities and private colleges. 1. Breach of Contract Claims.

Is a school negligence case the same as a car accident?

These kind of negligence claims are typically not the same as getting in a car accident, so a lawyer who is familiar with education law and school law is essential to assist you.These are just three of the most popular actions that could be brought against a private school, private college, or private university in a lawsuit.

What is an education law attorney?

Education law attorneys typically handle such matters as student rights, student discipline, bullying, harassment and school governance; if your issues involve other types of problems, another type of lawyer may be appropriate.

What does a school district attorney do?

The school district will pay for the legal services directly without going through a law firm. Counsel hired by the district as general counsel usually handle daily legal questions, contractual issues and smaller lawsuits involving simpler laws, such as open records requests or procedural questions for school board meetings. However, these attorneys may also advise on more complex lawsuits, typically with the assistance of a firm or attorney separately hired for a specific lawsuit.

What is a slip and fall lawsuit?

Lawsuits brought by parents and students against a school district could be anything from a slip-and-fall case to a violation by the school district of local, state, or federal statutes. You'll need to hire a lawyer that specializes in the type of legal problem you're experiencing. For example, if your child has been injured on school premises, ...

What happens when a school district and union disagree?

When the union and the school district are unable to reach agreement through negotiation or arbitration, the agreement occasionally proceeds to the courts, where a union attorney will represent the district's employees. As the parent of a student, however, this type of dispute is unlikely to involve you.

What happens if a school violates your admissions agreement?

If the school has violated your admissions agreement, you may have a claim for breach of contract and will need a contracts lawyer. The first step may be to speak to an education attorney and find out if she can help, or she can direct you to the appropriate type of attorney for the situation.

Can a district hire a single attorney?

The district may hire a single attorney, or it may hire an entire law firm. A law firm, as opposed to a solo practicing attorney, holds the advantage of having many attorneys to draw on for expertise and having more resources to cover expenses.

Can a teacher's union handle a lawsuit?

Lawsuits between a school district and its employees typically fall under collective bargaining agreements and so will be handled by an attorney working for the teacher's union. In addition, union attorneys are frequently used in the course of negotiating a collective bargaining agreement. When the union and the school district are unable to reach agreement through negotiation or arbitration, the agreement occasionally proceeds to the courts, where a union attorney will represent the district's employees. As the parent of a student, however, this type of dispute is unlikely to involve you.

Why do I want to sue a company?

There are many reasons why you might want to sue a company. If you were injured by a product they made, you need an lawyer who handles product liability claims. If you were hurt at work, you need a workers’ compensation attorney. If they violated your rights as an employee, you need to contact an attorney who handles employment discrimination. If you were hurt in their property, you need an attorney who handles personal injury/premesis liability. If you contact me or post a follow up to your question, I would be happy to help you narrow down the kind of lawyer you need.

Is the principle in litigation the same?

Actually the principle in the litigation is almost same but the law used differs .

Do you need a lawyer to win a small claims case?

If it's a small claims court case- file away. But if it's a case worth taking to court, then the assumption should be it's a case worth winning. And if it's a case worth winning….then you need a lawyer to win it.

Can a parent and child be resolved without going to court?

Trust me…there is always a way to resolve a problem between parent and child without going to court. It is hard to think of an issue that cannot be resolved between mother and child because mothers will usually trade their own well being for that of their children.

Can you sue the government if you haven't been declared a vexatious litigant

In the US, if you haven't been declared a vexatious litigant, you may sue anyone (except the government) you please. The government can only be sued where it has waived immunity by statute.

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