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Case Summary: Collins v. University of New Hampshire (1st Cir. 2011)
In the legal case of Collins v. University of New Hampshire, No. 10-2316, a tenured professor (referred to as the Plaintiff) found himself embroiled in a legal dispute with his employer, the University of New Hampshire (referred to as the Defendant).
The incident began when the Plaintiff was arrested by campus police and charged with stalking and disorderly conduct. This occurred following a heated altercation with a colleague, during which the Plaintiff expressed frustration over receiving a parking ticket. Despite the charges being later dismissed, the Plaintiff faced consequences such as a temporary ban from campus, removal from his position as department head, and mandatory attendance at an anger-management class.
Subsequently, the Plaintiff filed a lawsuit against the university, alleging false arrest, defamation, and violation of his due process rights. However, the district court ruled in favor of the Defendants, a decision that was affirmed by the First Circuit Court of Appeals.
The appellate court rejected the argument that the arrest was unlawful due to the nature of the alleged violation being civil rather than criminal. It was determined that the arrest warrant had been supported by probable cause. Additionally, the court found that the temporary suspension with pay for two months did not warrant pre-deprivation process, as it was considered a minimal deprivation of liberty. The Plaintiff had also been granted access to campus during the ban, with adequate procedural safeguards in place.
Furthermore, an email alerting others to the Plaintiff’s presence on campus was deemed not to be defamatory by the court.
In conclusion, the legal proceedings in Collins v. University of New Hampshire underscore the importance of understanding the legal nuances surrounding arrest, due process rights, and defamation claims in cases involving university personnel.
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