In the case of Sala et al v. Warwick Valley Central School District (2009), John Sala, Jr., a high school senior, was dismissed from his high school football team. Sala was arrested after police came to a friend’s house to find Sala and his friends in the presence of alcohol and marijuana. Following the arrest, he was suspended from the football team for the rest of the season. While serving the suspension, the District Athletic Director corrected Sala for speeding in the school parking lot, and he accused Sala of cursing at him in response. Sala was also ticketed for driving past the curfew of his license. This string of incidents led to Sala’s dismissal from the team by his coach. Throughout the dismissal process, Sala was given a meeting
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Merluzzi (1988), Daniel Palmer, a senior football player, was suspended for ten days from both curricular and extracurricular activities, following his admission that he had smoked marijuana and drank beer on school property. His father was notified by phone of the suspension, and again by written letter. Though this letter made no mention of additional penalties, Merluzzi, the superintendent of schools, suspended Palmer from the football team for an additional 60 days. This decision was made reliant on a policy that states, “No student may participate [in a scheduled event – in this case, a sport] who has not demonstrated good citizenship and …show more content…
Lopez (1975) Justice Powell commented, “As it is difficult to think of any less consequential infringement than suspension of a junior high school student for a single day, it is equally difficult to perceive any principled limit to the new reach of procedural due process.” Schools and athletic administrators would be wise to consider this comment and recognize that it is a still-developing area of law, with consequences that are not always predictable. Therefore, it is prudent for them to develop rigorous policies and procedures to protect themselves and coaches, in the event that a property or liberty interest is
Merluzzi (1988), Daniel Palmer, a senior football player, was suspended for ten days from both curricular and extracurricular activities, following his admission that he had smoked marijuana and drank beer on school property. His father was notified by phone of the suspension, and again by written letter. Though this letter made no mention of additional penalties, Merluzzi, the superintendent of schools, suspended Palmer from the football team for an additional 60 days. This decision was made reliant on a policy that states, “No student may participate [in a scheduled event – in this case, a sport] who has not demonstrated good citizenship and …show more content…
Lopez (1975) Justice Powell commented, “As it is difficult to think of any less consequential infringement than suspension of a junior high school student for a single day, it is equally difficult to perceive any principled limit to the new reach of procedural due process.” Schools and athletic administrators would be wise to consider this comment and recognize that it is a still-developing area of law, with consequences that are not always predictable. Therefore, it is prudent for them to develop rigorous policies and procedures to protect themselves and coaches, in the event that a property or liberty interest is