Stone | Dean defends colleges, universities, and community college districts when student discipline and academic decisions are challenged in court, including petitions for writ of administrative mandate under Code of Civil Procedure section 1094.5, claims and actions under the Government Claims Act, and related civil rights litigation.
Litigation Exposure for Institutions
Disciplinary decisions are frequently contested on two fronts at once: a writ petition attacking the hearing process and the administrative record, paired with a damages claim against the institution. Defending both requires litigators who know the record, the deferential standards of review that protect institutional decisions, and the procedural and immunity defenses available to public entities.
We bring the firm’s civil litigation defense practice to the campus setting, working with conduct officers, administrators, and in-house counsel to defend the institution’s decision, protect the record, and contain exposure.
How We Defend Institutions
Our litigation work in this area includes:
- Defending disciplinary and academic findings challenged by petition for writ of administrative mandate
- Defending government claims and damages actions arising from disciplinary or academic decisions
- Evaluating the administrative record and hearing process for defensibility in pending or anticipated litigation
- Defending litigation that follows Title IX and student conduct proceedings
Because litigation is fluid, we continuously reassess our strategies to adapt to evolving circumstances, ensuring your legal plan remains relevant and effective throughout the process.
