Opinion

Founds v. Board of Trustees of Southeastern Massachusetts University

  • 13 Mass. App. Ct. 959
  • 431 N.E.2d 965
  • 1982 Mass. App. LEXIS 1224
Court
Massachusetts Appeals Court
Filed
Mar 3, 1982
Status
Published
Cited by
0 cases
Authority
More cited than 10.9%

The opinion

1. The plaintiff has failed to state a claim for relief in tort because the university was at the time of the incident in question immune from liability on the basis of sovereign immunity. See, e.g., Hannigan v. New Gamma-Delta Chapter of Kappa Sigma Fraternity, Inc., 367 Mass. 658, 659 (1975). See also Kerlinsky v. Commonwealth, 7 Mass. App. Ct. 910 (1979).

Michael E. Alexander for the plaintiffs.

Walter R. Smith for the defendant.

Nor does the plaintiff state a claim in contract because it cannot be found on the evidence, as is necessary, that the plaintiff had enrolled in (or even applied for) any course or program at the defendant institution leading to a master’s degree in education. See Mahavongsanan v. Hall, 529 F.2d 448, 450 (5th Cir. 1976). Contrast Peretti v. Montana, 464 F. Supp. 784, 787 (D. Mont. 1979).

2. As the principal plaintiff has failed to state any legally cognizable claim against the Board of Trustees, the derivative claim of her spouse likewise fails.

3. Deciding this matter as we do on the merits, we find it unnecessary to discuss any of the procedural points raised in this appeal.

Judgment affirmed.

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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