A short excerpt from the long opinion in Newman v. Howard Univ. School of Law, decided today by Judge Trevor McFadden (D.D.C.):
Three years after he enrolled at Howard University School of Law, Michael Newman found himself in court—though not as a budding lawyer. Howard expelled Newman before his final year. Before that, Newman lost his scholarship, drew backlash from his peers, and feuded with administrators.
Newman now proceeds pro se in this case against his alma mater and several of its administrators (collectively, "Howard"). His claims have dwindled during the years this case has progressed. As things stand, Newman presses several contract breach claims (related to his lost scholarship), claims for racial interference with a contract under 42 U.S.C. § 1981 (again, related to his scholarship), and a handful of defamation claims. Howard now seeks summary judgment. The Court grants that motion as to all but two of Newman's defamation claims….
A sample of the rejected claims:
