Calif. Court Finds Colleges Not Liable for Student Violence
The lawsuit, brought by former UCLA student Katherine Rosen, was dismissed by a ruling of 2-1.
A California court concluded that public universities are not responsible for violence committed by students on campus.
The state’s District Court of Appeals dismissed a lawsuit against the University of California regents by a ruling of 2-1, according to the LA Times.
The lawsuit, filed by a former UCLA student who was attacked by a fellow classmate in 2010, accused the school of diagnosing the classmate with a mental illness but failing to alert students to the danger he posed.
In 2010 UCLA student Damon Thompson was diagnosed with having paranoid delusions and suffering from possible schizophrenia by the UCLA medical center. Later that year he stabbed and slit the throat of classmate Katherine Rosen in her chemistry lab. He was later found not guilty of the crime by reason of insanity.
An attorney for the Rosen said the university presented itself as a safe school but failed to take appropriate measures to protect its students.
But one justice wrote in her decision that the crime, which was driven by mental illness, was society’s problem, not the school’s.
If you appreciated this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our FREE digital newsletters!
Related Content
Leading in Turbulent Times: Effective Campus Public Safety Leadership for the 21st Century
This new webcast will discuss how campus public safety leaders can effectively incorporate Clery Act, Title IX, customer service, “helicopter” parents, emergency notification, town-gown relationships, brand management, Greek Life, student recruitment, faculty, and more into their roles and develop the necessary skills to successfully lead their departments. Register today to attend this free webcast!
