So you didn't hire an attorney to help you with your Case Western Reserve misconduct case. When you were initially accused, you figured that a campus judicial matter wouldn't be a big deal. When you were under investigation, you didn't want your parents to find out what was happening. Even when someone mentioned to you that you might be suspended or dismissed if you were found Responsible, as you were going through the hearing, you didn't really think suspension or dismissal were realistic possibilities.
Now you're facing one of those sanctions, and you're down to your last option: an appeal.
The good news is you've come to the right place. The Lento Law Firm's Student Defense Team was created to help protect student rights. We've been at this for a while now, and we know everything the law has to say about university justice. We also know exactly how Case Western's processes and procedures work. We have experience with appeals specifically, and we've dealt with every conceivable type of charge. Simply put, no one gives you a better chance at salvaging your academic future than we do.
Here's the thing, though: Case Western gives you just five days from the end of your hearing to file an appeal. That means you need to act quickly. Call 888-535-3686 today to find out how we can help, or take time now and use our online questionnaire right now to tell us more about your case.
It's Your Right – Use It
You may have already discovered this, but if you haven't, it's time someone told you dismissal doesn't just mean the end of your career at Case Western. In all likelihood, it means the end of your academic career altogether. That's because, in addition to being expelled from the university, you'll also have a permanent black mark on your transcript. Very few schools are willing to take a risk on admitting a student who's been expelled elsewhere. Even if you're only facing suspension, your future could still be in serious jeopardy. It's never easy coming back to school after time away. You're out of the academic groove. And should you manage to finish your degree, you'll still have to do with that transcript notation about your offense when you go to apply for jobs.
If these facts don't give you enough motivation to file an appeal, consider the fact that mistakes happen all the time when it comes to campus justice. In today's litigious culture, universities have developed itchy trigger fingers when it comes to accusing students of misconduct. They've also inflated sanctions so that offenses that might have received a slap on the wrist thirty years ago now result in suspension or worse. Worst of all, though, universities aren't really set up to administer proper justice. You weren't tried in a court of law, for example. There wasn't a seasoned prosecutor, and your case wasn't heard by a learned judge. If you were lucky, you faced a panel of students and faculty who'd been through some basic training in procedures. That's a recipe for injustice.
Luckily, Case Western does provide all accused students with due process rights. That's why you were treated as Not Responsible (innocent) until proven Responsible (guilty). That's why you were allowed to review all evidence against you. And it's why you had the right to an attorney of your choice (even if you didn't pick a Lento Law Firm attorney to serve in that role, as you should have). You've used many of those rights already. The one left to you is the right to appeal your case. We know, we know: you're worn out at this point from the investigation and hearing, but you have the right to appeal, and you owe it to yourself to take advantage of that right.
The Appeals Process at Case Western Reserve
Don't misunderstand us: an appeal isn't a simple matter, and you face an uphill battle. As a starting point, you're no longer presumed "Not Responsible." In fact, you've been "proven" Responsible. Even if there were problems with your case, the university will assume, for now, that you did commit the offense and will treat you as such. Among other things, this means the burden of proof is now on you. Where before, Case Western had to prove you were guilty; now it's up to you to prove the university made a mistake.
Just to make things a bit more challenging, there are really only three arguments you're allowed to make. These are called “grounds” for appeal.
- You can argue that some procedural error occurred that cost you a chance at a fair outcome.
- You can present new evidence that wasn't available at the time of the hearing and that could have some impact on the case outcome.
- You can argue that the sanction is disproportionate to the nature of the offense.
You face additional hurdles as well:
- You have just five days to prepare your appeal. This doesn't give you a lot of time to draft the document, let alone uncover proof of a mistake or new evidence to demonstrate your innocence.
- While the appeal board will meet to discuss your case, you are not invited to this meeting. You do not get to present evidence or call witnesses. You cannot use your own voice to persuade board members. Instead, all of your arguments must be condensed into a single document. That's not easy.
- Other than new evidence, the board will not consider material other than the record of the original hearing, the contents of your written appeal, and any response given by the original hearing board.
- Even should you win your appeal, your case isn't over. The board can reduce the severity of your sanction, or it can remand your case for a new hearing. That means you have to go through the whole process all over again.
Fight for Your Future
The Lento Law Firm is always on your side, no matter the situation. We know universities have stretched their authority to the breaking point. We know they sometimes treat students unfairly, and we're dedicated to stopping their overreach.
Our Student Defense Team will go over the record with you and look for possible grounds for appeal. We'll work hard to uncover new evidence of your innocence. We can work with you to draft a strong, compelling document. The bottom line is that no one in the country works harder for student justice, and no one gives you a better chance at a new hearing.
As we said in the beginning, though, you cannot afford to wait. The window for filing your appeal at Case Western is just five days. Contact the Lento Law Firm today at 888-535-3686 or use our online form.
