Expelled White Student's Suit Against Howard Law School Largely Dismissed, but Can Go Forward on Some Claims

Howard University School of Law expelled Michael Newman .

Judge Trevor McFadden (D.D.C.) dismisses most of Newman 's antidiscrimination claims for failure to adequately plead the existence of a material adverse action caused by his race.

The court allows Newman 's defamation claim to go forward but only as to two of the six statements he alleged were defamatory.

Dean Obeidallah: Newman alleges he said that "the black community" "believe[s] government solves problems" while he "only see" it causing problems.

He says he cannot manufacture a defamation claim by relying on innuendo to hide the import of his statement.

Obeydallah: Court dismisses all of Newman 's defamation claims except those pertaining to Holley 's description of his email about his classmate's death as "defamatory" and Newman said " African-Americans suffer from hive mind".

Dean Danielle Holley told Newman "I request that you no longer send any emails to the Class of 2023 email list or any other law school email list" Newman contacted the university president, Wayne Frederick , to complain about his treatment and alleged that he was facing racial discrimination.

Newman 's first year at Howard did not go well, his classmates referred to him with a slew of racial epithets.

Newman also tried to discuss the COVID pandemic using that listserv.