For more than a year, Professor Thomas Meixner and other faculty members at The University of Arizona warned the school that ousted former grad student Murad Dervish was dangerous, and they begged the University to protect them. The University, however, failed to do so, and in October 2022, Dervish killed Meixner. According to an internal report on the murder, Meixner's last words to Dervish were, “I knew you were going to do this.”

A History of Threats

Dervish, who began having issues with faculty members after receiving bad grades, was eventually kicked out of the school for his behavior. When he was arrested after killing Meixner on campus, he told police investigators, “Well, at least I fulfilled my mission.” Dervish is set to stand trial for the murder later this year.

Meixner's family sued the school and recently reached a settlement agreement that, among other terms, awards the family $2.5 million, requires the school to name a building after Meixner, and waives tuition for the students who were most affected by the tragedy.

If the school had taken the pleas from Meixner and other faculty members more seriously, Meixner's life would have been spared, students and other faculty members would have been spared the terror and trauma, and the school would not have been sued.

If you or a member of your family has suffered because of the actions or lack of action of a school or university, the Education Law Team at the Lento Law Firm can help. Call us at 888.535.3686 or contact us online today so we can discuss your situation with you.

Administrators Ignored Warning Signs

From November 2021 until the murder in October 2022, four University of Arizona faculty members persistently contacted the Dean of Students to express their concerns about Dervish and ask for help. They also reported Dervish to the University's Office of General Counsel and the University of Arizona Police Department, reporting the harassment and verbal threats Dervish was making to all of them and stating explicitly that they believed their lives were in danger.

One month before the shooting, the University Police Department wrote a report on Dervish that minimized the threat he posed, saying, “There is no indication at this time that Dervish intends to return to campus.”

Faculty members then took their safety into their own hands by purchasing bulletproof vests, moving their offices, staying in places other than their homes, installing home security systems, purchasing weapons, and asking the University to move their courses online.

According to the University's internal report, “The lack of a central risk management system and the fragmentation of responsibilities related to violence risks resulted in institutional focus on legal risks and the neglect of violence risks.”

Campuses Should be Safe

Every student and faculty member has a right to feel safe on campus. If you feel like your university is not taking your safety seriously, the Lento Law Firm can help. Call us at 888.535.3686 or contact us online today.