A science teacher forgets to remind her students to wear their safety goggles during a chemistry experiment and one student is injured when the caustic chemicals he is working with splash into his eyes. A teacher is late for recess duty and a student falls from the swings and is injured. A principal sends one teacher and one student teacher on a…

Issues related to elder abuse and neglect should be systematically addressed in nursing curricula, including ways to identify abuse at the macro, mezzo, and micro levels and the inclusion of the views of elders in the educational process. (SK)

Explores the question of responsibility if a college-admission officer makes the "wrong" decision and a once-violent applicant enrolled as a student turns violent again. Uses the cases of Gina Grant, who had murdered her mother, and Richie Parker, convicted of sexual assault, to illustrate the need for clear legal standards to guide the…

School districts must properly manage volunteers to protect children from negligent behavior. Districts can reduce the risk of using volunteers by developing volunteer-management policies and procedures; maintaining adequate liability insurance; developing descriptions of volunteer responsibilities; screening interested persons; and providing…

Before abused children can heal and learn effectively, the problem causing the trauma must be recognized and identified, and proper legal issues must be addressed. Through various local, state, and federal mechanisms, U.S. society has provided a process for reporting suspected child abuse and crafting a positive solution. (Contains 28 references.)…

Discusses effectiveness of requiring students and parents to sign forms waiving schools' liability for students' sports injuries. Articulates rationale behind waivers and discusses recent cases in which courts invalidated waivers as violating public policy. Argues waivers are valid, enforceable contract against parents and do not violate public…

In a suit involving an assaulted Native American middle school student, a federal court judge granted the Philadelphia Public Schools' motion for summary judgment. Even in this post-Columbine era, senseless on-campus, student-to-student violence is generally not considered a civil-rights issue. Exceptions are noted. (MLH)

Superintendents who are knowledgeable about the law, understand its application to school operations, and provide ongoing training of site administrators are less likely to be mired in threatened lawsuits. The school attorney should be a valued, but not pivotal resource driving administrative decision making. Legal basics (including pitfalls)…

Discusses New York case involving harassment of a female high school junior by three other girls culminating in physical attack that results in serious brain injuries to the girl. Girl's parents sued school officials for negligence. Jury finds that the vice-principal acted in reckless disregard for girl's safety and awards parents $11.2 million…

A study of the effect of organizational politics on 303 Israeli public employees found that public sector workers are more likely to react to organizational politics with negligent behavior than quitting. Women, highly educated employees, and those with higher incomes showed fewer intentions of neglect. (Contains 66 references.) (SK)

Review of suit brought by high school basketball player against Iowa school district claiming the district was guilty of negligent misrepresentation. High school counselor advised student to take a communications course, saying it would satisfy NCAA core English requirements, but he later found out it did not, resulting in his loss of a…

The present study investigated differences between the general elderly population and elderly new immigrants from former Soviet Union countries in regard to the incidence of elder abuse and neglect, victims' characteristics, and perpetrators' characteristics. In addition, the study sought to examine predictors of various types of abuse and…

Examines all reported state and federal cases involving college fraternities and sororities and negligence resulting from the use of alcohol by college students from 1970 through 2001. Research examined the litigation volume, fact patterns, defendants named for litigation, and outcomes of cases. Results indicate student affairs professionals…

Summarizes claims data drawn from the records of the National Association of Social Workers Insurance Trust from 1969 to 1990. Provides data for frequency and cost of claims for various claims categories and offers suggestions for minimizing the occurrence of liability claims. The majority of claims against individual practitioners involve…

This article discusses the potential negligence-based liability risks that orientation and mobility (O&M) specialists often face when assisting students with visual impairments with independent travel in uncontrolled environments. It also presents strategies that may minimize the risks of O&M training for both students and specialists. (Contains…