LCW Partner Pilar Morin and Senior Counsels David Urban and Meredith Karasch recently obtained a victory on behalf of a community college district in a faculty member termination case. A college sociology professor was charged with: harassing students on the basis of their gender and LGBTQ status, and interfering with an investigation directive by contacting a student witness.
The Court of Appeal reversed the trial court’s order against the district and ordered the trial court to issue a writ instructing the arbitrator to terminate the faculty member’s employment. The decision emphasized that the unfit faculty member should not be reinstated and that the member’s lack of remorse further confirmed that dismissal was the appropriate remedy. The majority opinion also recognized the harm the faculty member’s conduct had on students. LCW handled the disciplinary appeal arbitration, Petition for Writ of Mandate, and the appeal.