October 16th, 2008Should I get a lawyer?
I was just suspended in school for write ups that I didn’t even know about. I never signed one, ever, and she wouldn’t give me copies of the complaints when I asked for them. One of the write ups was for me suppossedly saying I was going to quit school as soon as I got my money from my loan, which I never said. It was to my understanding when I signed my contract that if I was given a write up then I would be notified, a meeting would be held and I would have to sign it. None of that took place. Now I have been suspended for two weeks, and that means my grant will not come through due to too many days missed. I will have to pay out of pocket for the days missed. When I tried to discuss these write ups with her, she didn’t let me talk, instead she told me I was being rude, hateful and wasn’t listening and threatened to expell me from the school. I still don’t think I have done anything wrong, most of the things I were wrote up for where gossip and never happened. What 2 do?
To add some details: I am an adult. The owner of the school, which is a cosmetology school, is the one who suspended me. It is a private school. When I called a lawyer about it, they said that the courts don’t like to get into private school matters. But he did say that it was a breach of contract and that I should sit down with her and the instructors and talk with them. The thing is, it wouldn’t matter what I said, the instructors don’t wanna loose their jobs, all she does is yell and doesn’t let me get a word in and when I do, it’s back talking and being disrespectful. I can’t help but feel that if I did sit down and try to talk civil with her, then I would end up kicked out because I can’t get her to listen at all to me. She’s a hard woman to deal with. I don’t like the idea of just me against all the school’s officials and no one to document any of it. To transfer means I would owe her money, and have to start over with more money paid to another school.
Not only did she expell me, she said I should just quit. If I quit, then I have to pay back the money to the government 4 my grant. She wants to close the school down and I have said that I didn’t sign up to go to the school she wants to combine us with which is in another city, which means more gas 4 me to pay out and I said that if she does combine them, I should be reimbursed the tuition I paid to go to this school to compensate 4 the gas I will be spending. I think that’s resonable, but she’s tooken it personal I feel. I don’t think any of this is because of anything I have actually done as much as a personal vendetta against me because she doesn’t want to loose any money.
October 17th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
Lawyer/parents. It’s a monetary and legal matter, and schools usually flinch at the sight of lawyers and media. They will talk big talk, but they are full of hot air.
October 19th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Is there a student legal aid department? Are you in college? Are your parents involved? There must be some other recourse in the administration department. Read through on the administrative website to see what you can find . Doyou have an advisor?
October 19th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Try a different official first: counselor, principle, assist. principle, dean, etc. - you didn’t say who “she” is. Get a parent involved, then get a lawyer if you need it and/or go to the ACLU and any other student advocate group you can contact.
October 22nd, 2008 at 6:19 am
quit school and stop wasting your time..find a guy and let him take care of you…Vote McBush to push womens rights 50 years back
October 23rd, 2008 at 3:41 am
Call a lawyer. Thats insane they can’t just accuse of things and suspend you without any basis.
October 25th, 2008 at 11:58 am
you should get pre paid legal services! its a lot cheaper than buyin a lawyer..all you do is pay 35 bucks a month for the same service!
October 25th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
First of all, talk to your parents, or another close adult .Perhaps your parents will be able to see the copies of the alleged complaints. It’s unclear whether this is a college situation or high school. However, everyone has a boss; someone to whom they answer. If you truly are innocent of all these allegations, do not stop until you get to the Dean or the Superintendent, whichever applies. It helps when your parents or someone supports you, but if you are right, then you are right.
October 26th, 2008 at 2:48 am
The best defender or advocate of your rights would be a competent lawyer.
October 26th, 2008 at 7:12 am
Lawyers cost 100s of dollars per hour of their time. If you have that much money, you would not be worrying about losing your aid.
Legal aid seldom backs plaintiffs in civil actions. Since you would be doing the suing, you would be the plaintiff, but don’t let that stop you from trying.
Your best bet would be to try to get one of the consumer affairs departments of a local radio or TV station. In DC, we have “7 on your side.” Schools, especially private ones, do not like publicity, especially when they appear to be playing fast and loose with procedure, which appears to be the case here.
Sorry, but life is like this. Us little guys get routinely screwed into the wall with great frequency. About all you can do is pray that all of her grandchildren get leukemia, or start playing with dolls of the voodoo variety.