United States Eleventh Circuit

In an action by a former nursing student, alleging that her suspension from the Licensed Practical Nursing Program at Appalachian Technical College violated her free speech and due process rights, because defendants allegedly: 1) suspended plaintiff in retaliation for reporting one of her instructors for falsifying attendance records, in violation of the First Amendment; and 2) suspended her without a meaningful opportunity to respond to the charges against her, judgment for defendants is affirmed where the court could not say the district court erred in deciding that, for qualified immunity purposes, school administrators in their position could have reasonably believed that suspending plaintiff would not violate her First Amendment rights under the facts of this case.

Appellate Information

• Decided 12/21/2010
• Published 12/21/2010

Judges

• Rosemary C. Barkett

Court

• United States Eleventh Circuit

Counsel