I have posted numerous times before about the case of Lawrence Connell, the Widener Law School Professor who was placed on one-year unpaid leave and forced to undergo a psychiatric examination as a condition of return.
The sanctions imposed by Dean Linda Ammons were so controversial that a high profile alumnus and major donor to the law school resigned from its fundraising committee and publicy criticized Ammons.
The short story is that Connell was vindicated by a university panel of allegations of race and sex discrimination, but found to have “retaliated” against the two complaining students by circulating an e-mail to the student body defending himself and having his lawyer threaten to sue the students. Connell sued Ammons as well as the two students, and the case was filed in conservative Sussex County, Delaware.
Connell successfully fought an attempt to move the case, which I predicted would put a lot of pressure on Widener to settle.
The case now has settled, with Connell leaving Widener permanently in exchange for what presumably was a cash settlement.
I received the following statement from Connell’s attorney:
I am authorized today, February 8, 2012, to make the following announcement about my client professor Larry Connell’s pending lawsuit in the Delaware Superior Court against the Delaware Law School of Widener University, Dean Linda Ammons, and students Jennifer R. Perez and Nadege Tandoh.“All claims amongst all parties have been resolved amicably and Professor Connell’s employment with the University and Law School has been concluded. Specific terms of the resolution are confidential. So, we have no further comment.”Thank you.Thomas S. Neuberger, Esq. Attorney for Professor Connell
I hope Connell received just compensation. He certainly deserved it.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL VERSION OF THIS STORY