Brian Lindsay, a chemistry major, participated in a summer research program at St. Olaf College. The 10-week program required him to work in a laboratory under the direction of a chemistry professor. Lindsay received a $3,500 stipend and free housing. On July 11, 2002, he was performing a procedure to clean, or "quench," a flask. The…

A Texas court's recent ruling that allowed a negligence lawsuit to proceed against 12 former administrators at Texas A&M University has some higher-education legal experts concerned about campus officials' liability in a variety of situations, including fraternity initiations, housing accidents, and student suicides. The decision was in favor…

In November 2002, Chief Judge Judith Kaye attended the National Adoption Day festivities in Albany County and New York County (Manhattan). Although pleased that 600 adoptions were being finalized statewide on this special day, she was concerned to learn more than 6,000 other children were free for adoption but had not yet found permanent families.…

Twenty-three-year-old Cristina Moreno traveled from Spain to California for her honeymoon in 2000. As part of her visit, she rode the Indiana Jones amusement ride at Disneyland with her new husband. On June 25, 2000, she suffered a brain injury, and she eventually died on September 1, 2000, as a result of injuries allegedly sustained while riding…

In 1960 legal activities became incorporated into a staff position, although leaders of the legal profession have been active in the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) since its founding. AAUP has filed approximately 77 briefs in the federal and state courts, all directed to advancing AAUP policies. (Author/MLW)

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act does not specify whether parents or school districts have the burden of proof in special education litigation. It is the position of the National Council on Disability that school districts, not parents, should have the burden of proof in issues about Individualized Education Plans (IEP's),…

A decision of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court set a binding precedent which classifies gifted and talented students as exceptional children and requires that resources already in place within school districts be made available to develop individualized education programs for gifted students. (JDD)

The paper discusses the impact of two legal cases. In "Board versus Rowley," the Supreme Court established a three-part standard for appropriate education of students with disabilities. In "Centennial versus Commonwealth," the Pennsylvania Supreme Court held that gifted students merit an Individualized Education Program and…

With legal threats against them mounting, trustees of public and private colleges alike are hearing mixed and vague messages about how much they personally have at stake in lawsuits aimed at their institutions' affirmative-action policies. Few cases in either federal or states courts provide guidance on trustees' potential individual liability.…

This publication is intended to help ensure full and prompt implementation of the improvements in the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act for children being raised by grandparents and other relatives. It was prepared by 18 organizations, many of whom have been working individually and together for a number of years to…

The 1981 court trial concerning a challenge to the constitutionality of Arkansas' Act 590, the Balanced Treatment for Creation-Science and Evolution-Science Act, is described in detail. Arguments, courtroom strategies, and personalities are discussed, and the ruling of unconstitutionality is outlined. (MSE)

Decisions made by federal and state courts during 1983 concerning education are reported in this compilation of eight independently authored chapters. The first chapter focuses on governance, examining the organizational and authority relationships among state and local boards of education and the general public. The chapter on employees considers…