Student
Barnes v. Zaccari
From May 2007 to July 2015
Hayden Barnes was a student at Valdosta State University (VSU). In May 2007, Barnes was expelled from VSU by former president Ronald Zaccari for a satirical environmental collage he posted on his personal Facebook page, protesting the planned construction of two parking garages on campus. Barnes was not afforded a hearing, and his expulsion was […]
Reed v. Neiheisel
From October 2014 to July 2015
A faculty member and a student sued members of a student newspaper’s board of directors for allegedly retaliating against them for publishing a number of controversial articles.
Murakowski v. University of Delaware
From June 2005 to September 2008
A student at the University of Delaware sued the university after being disciplined for a website he maintained on the university’s server.
Esfeller v. O’Keefe
From October 2006 to August 2010
A student at Louisiana State University sued after being charged with numerous violations of the school’s code.
Tenured Faculty
Garrett v. Hine
April 2019
Two professors sued Bakersfield College after it allegedly retaliated against them for criticizing the way faculty spent grant money.
Monte Miller, East Carolina University
June 2021
A professor resigned his position after a post denigrating Juneteenth appeared on his Facebook page.
Bonnell v. Lorenzo
From February 1998 to October 2001
A faculty member at Macomb Community College filed a lawsuit after being suspended for using obscene language in the classroom and allegedly retaliating against a complainant.
Hulen v. Yates
From July 1995 to March 2003
A tenured professor at Colorado State University sued the university after being transferred to another department, allegedly in retaliation for his contribution to an investigation of a colleague.
Student Group
Intervarsity Christian Fellowship/USA v. University of Iowa
June 2018
A Christian student group filed suit against the University of Iowa after it was deregistered because of its leadership requirements.
Pro-Life Cougars v. University of Houston
From October 2001 to March 2003
A pro-life student organization sued the University of Houston after it denied a permit to display a pro-life “exhibit” in a high-pedestrian area of campus.
The Koala v. Khosla
From November 2015 to July 2019
The University of California, San Diego eliminated all funds to student print media after a student newspaper published an article satirizing safe spaces.
Various Student Organizations, Sam Houston State University
From September 2011 to November 2011
A professor at Sam Houston State University vandalized a “free speech wall” cosponsored by student organizations to protest SHSU’s social media policy.
