St. Thomas College of Law Reinstates Fired Tenured Professor, Will Start Termination Hearings

Following up on my previous post, Tenured Professor Sues St. Thomas College of Law After Firing:  ABA Journal, St. Thomas College of Law Reinstates Fired Tenured Professor, Will Start Termination Hearings:

After firing a tenured professor in July, the St. Thomas University Benjamin L. Crump College of Law has reinstated her for the purpose of formally terminating her via the due process rights spelled out in the faculty handbook.

On Tuesday, the Florida-based school sent a letter to professor Lauren Gilbert signed by David A. Armstrong, the university’s president, spelling out the plan.

“Based on the foregoing instances of your demonstrated misconduct and/or disregard for university and law school policies, the law school believes that your dismissal from employment with the university is warranted,” wrote Armstrong in the Aug. 27 letter.

According to the July termination letter, grounds for firing Gilbert include an altercation in which she grabbed a security guard in 2010, as well as more recent incidents, among them being dismissive of rumors about an active shooter on campus. This week’s letter adds an “inappropriate relationship” with a student.

“Professor Gilbert categorically denies having any inappropriate relationship with any former student, ever,” wrote David Frakt, Gilbert’s attorney who specializes in academic cases, via email to the ABA Journal. “This accusation is completely fact-free. The alleged student is not named, and no details are provided as to what made the alleged relationship inappropriate.”

He added that St. Thomas University “has been advised to expect a defamation lawsuit.”

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