Saiber Wins on All Claims at Trial For a Higher Education Client

Saiber Wins on All Claims at Trial For a Higher Education Client

September 26, 2013

Saiber attorney Rina Grassotti successfully defended a large public institution of higher education in New Jersey Superior Court, Essex County, against claims made by a former student. The claims were for breach of the student’s resident assistant agreement; retaliation through the denial of registration access to some classes; and, most importantly, the student challenged several course grades.

The Court’s ruling for the university with regard to the student’s challenge to course grades and to the grade appeals process was an important victory because, as the Judge noted in his decision, it questioned the very core of the school’s academic integrity. Having already appealed the grades within the school’s academic process, the student was essentially asking the Court to substitute its judgment for that of the professors who taught the courses and issued the grades, and that of the faculty members and administrators who reviewed the grades in the appeals process. The Court ruled that it was not its function to question the judgment of the academic professionals best suited to make such determinations.

In her practice, Ms. Grassotti focuses her work on higher education and school law, employment and labor law, business litigation, insurance coverage litigation, and reinsurance litigation in New Jersey and New York State and Federal Courts. Prior to joining Saiber, Rina clerked for the Honorable Ariel A. Rodriguez, Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division.

Ms. Grassotti is the Co-Chair of the Higher Education Committee of the New Jersey State Bar Association (NJSBA). In that role she is organizing the Second Annual Higher Education Conference, which will focus on compliance issues and will be held on November 4, 2013 at the Law Center in New Brunswick. Ms. Grassotti is also a member of the National Association of College and University Attorneys. As a public speaker, she recently addressed social media and employment law issues at Saiber’s client conference.

Ms. Grassotti is a graduate of Seton Hall University Law School. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Massachusetts. She has been named to the list of Rising Stars by New Jersey Super Lawyers.

Attachment: September 27, 2013 Press Release