Cannon v. Southern University Board of Supervisors

Filing 79

RULING granting 66 Motion for Summary Judgment, and Plaintiff's claims are dismissed with prejudice. Judgment shall be entered accordingly. Signed by Chief Judge Shelly D. Dick on 6/27/2019. (EDC)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA

SHABOYD PIERRE CANNON

CIVIL ACTION

VERSUS

17-527-SDD-RLB

SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY BOARD
OF SUPERVISORS, ET AL.
RULING
This matter is before the Court on the Motion for Summary Judgment and Motion
to Dismiss1 filed by Defendants, Southern University Board of Supervisors, Freddie
Pitcher, Jr., John K. Pierre, and Tony Clayton (collectively “Defendants”).

Plaintiff,

Shaboyd Cannon (“Plaintiff”), has filed an Opposition2 to this motion, to which Defendants
filed a Reply.3 For the reasons which follow, the Court finds that the summary judgment
motion should be granted.
I.

FACTUAL & PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
Plaintiff was formerly a student enrolled at the Southern University Law Center

(“SULC”), an institution within the Southern University Agricultural and Mechanical
College System, which is an agency of the State of Louisiana. The Board of Supervisors

1

Rec. Doc. No. 66.
Rec. Doc. Nos. 67 & 72.
3
Rec. Doc. No. 76.
2

52165 
Page 1 of 15 

(“the Board”) is the constitutionally established governing body of the Southern System
pursuant to Article XII Section 7 of the Louisiana Constitution of 1974. Defendant Freddie
Pitcher, Jr. is the former Chancellor of SULC, Defendant John Pierre is the current
Chancellor of SULC, and Defendant Tony Clayton was formerly a member of the Board.
These Defendants are named solely in their official capacities.
Plaintiff alleges that he was dismissed from SULC on August 22, 2014, while he
was in his third year of law school, for failing to report two arrests on his admission
application back in 2011.4 Following an appeal from this dismissal, Plaintiff alleges he
was readmitted to SULC on August 26, 2014.5 Plaintiff was dismissed again on January
13, 2015 on the alleged grounds that his 2014 dismissal had been taken “under
advisement.”6 Again, Plaintiff appealed and attended a hearing before the Board, which
Plaintiff alleges was “procedurally and substantively flawed,” on October 25, 2015.7 The
Board denied Plaintiff’s appeal and upheld his dismissal from SULC.
Plaintiff filed this lawsuit on August 8, 2017, asserting a state law breach of contract
claim against SULC8 and federal claims alleging that Defendants have violated Plaintiff’s
Fourteenth Amendment rights to due process, equal protection, and liberty interest.9
Defendants moved to dismiss Plaintiff’s case under Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal
Rules of Civil Procedure based on prescription and Eleventh Amendment sovereign

4

Rec. Doc. No. 19, ¶ 1.
Id. at ¶ 3.
6
Id. at ¶ 4.
7
Id. at ¶ 7.
8
Id. at ¶¶107-119.
9
Id. at ¶¶120-150.
5

52165 
Page 2 of 15 

immunity. The Court granted Defendants’ motion as to Plaintiff’s state law breach of
contract claim but denied the motion to dismiss Plaintiff’s federal claims because Plaintiff
clarified that he sought only declaratory and injunctive relief, rather than money
damages.10 Accordingly, because the Plaintiff alleged that his constitutional rights to due
process and equal protection were violated and seeks injunctive relief in the form of
readmission to SULC, the Court held that his federal claims fall within the Ex parte Young
exception and are not barred by the Eleventh Amendment.11
Defendants filed the instant motion seeking relief under Rule 12(c) and,
alternatively, under Rule 56 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Plaintiff filed an
Opposition to this motion; however, Plaintiff’s Opposition was responsive to a Rule
12(b)(6) standard, not responsive to the issues presented, unsupported by applicable
jurisprudence, and rife with inappropriate hyperbole.12 Nevertheless, the Court provided
Plaintiff an opportunity to respond to Defendants’ Rule 56 motion,13 and Plaintiff submitted
a second Opposition within the deadlines provided.
II.

LAW AND ANALYSIS
A. Summary Judgment Standard
“The court shall grant summary judgment if the movant shows that there is no

genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter

10

See Rec. Doc. No. 31.
Id.
12
See Rec. Doc. No. 67.
13
Rec. Doc. No. 71.
11

52165 
Page 3 of 15 

of law.”14 “When assessing whether a dispute to any material fact exists, we consider all
of the evidence in the record but refrain from making credibility determinations or weighing
the evidence.”15 A party moving for summary judgment “must ‘demonstrate the absence
of a genuine issue of material fact,’ but need not negate the elements of the nonmovant’s
case.”16 If the moving party satisfies its burden, “the non-moving party must show that
summary judgment is inappropriate by setting ‘forth specific facts showing the existence
of a genuine issue concerning every essential component of its case.’”17 However, the
non-moving party’s burden “is not satisfied with some metaphysical doubt as to the
material facts, by conclusory allegations, by unsubstantiated assertions, or by only a
scintilla of evidence.”18
Notably, “[a] genuine issue of material fact exists, ‘if the evidence is such that a
reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party.’”19 All reasonable factual
inferences are drawn in favor of the nonmoving party.20 However, “[t]he Court has no
duty to search the record for material fact issues. Rather, the party opposing the summary
judgment is required to identify specific evidence in the record and to articulate precisely

14

Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a).
Delta & Pine Land Co. v. Nationwide Agribusiness Ins. Co., 530 F.3d 395, 398-99 (5th Cir. 2008).
16
Guerin v. Pointe Coupee Parish Nursing Home, 246 F.Supp.2d 488, 494 (M.D. La. 2003)(quoting Little
v. Liquid Air Corp., 37 F.3d 1069, 1075 (5th Cir. 1994)(en banc)(quoting Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S.
317, 323-25, 106 S.Ct. at 2552)).
17
Rivera v. Houston Independent School Dist., 349 F.3d 244, 247 (5th Cir. 2003)(quoting Morris v. Covan
World Wide Moving, Inc., 144 F.3d 377, 380 (5th Cir. 1998)).
18
Willis v. Roche Biomedical Laboratories, Inc., 61 F.3d 313, 315 (5th Cir. 1995)(quoting Little v. Liquid Air
Corp., 37 F.3d 1069, 1075 (5th Cir. 1994).
19
Pylant v. Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Company, 497 F.3d 536, 538 (5th Cir. 2007)(quoting
Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986)).
20
Galindo v. Precision American Corp., 754 F.2d 1212, 1216 (5th Cir. 1985).
15

52165 
Page 4 of 15 

how this evidence supports his claim.”21 “Conclusory allegations unsupported by specific
facts … will not prevent the award of summary judgment; ‘the plaintiff [can]not rest on his
allegations … to get to a jury without any “significant probative evidence tending to
support the complaint.”’”22
B. Plaintiff’s Summary Judgment Evidence
Plaintiff has failed to submit to the Court admissible summary judgment evidence
to support his opposition to Defendants’ motion. Plaintiff’s Statement of Contested Facts,
incorporated into his Opposition, are identified by dates.

Only two statements of

purported fact contain a citation to record evidence. The statement identified as 2013-814 references Exhibit #52.23 However, this Exhibit is not evidence supporting Plaintiff’s
statement. The statement identified as 2015-10-14 & 22 references Exhibit #51,24 but
this exhibit likewise does not evince support for Plaintiff’s proffered statement of fact. No
other purported statements of contested facts direct the Court to corresponding record
evidence as required by Rule 56(c)(1)(A) which provides that: “A party asserting that a
fact cannot be or is genuinely disputed must support the assertion by: (A) citing to
particular parts of materials in the record, including depositions, documents, electronically
stored information, affidavits or declarations, stipulations (including those made for
purposes of the motion only), admissions, interrogatory answers, or other materials … .”

21

RSR Corp. v. International Ins. Co., 612 F.3d 851, 857 (5th Cir. 2010).
Nat’l Ass’n of Gov’t Employees v. City Pub. Serv. Bd. of San Antonio, Tex., 40 F.3d 698, 713 (5th Cir.
1994)(quoting Anderson, 477 U.S. at 249).
23
Rec. Doc. No. 72-1 at 1.
24
Rec. Doc. No. 72-1 at 2.
22

52165 
Page 5 of 15 

The only other exhibit attached to Plaintiff’s Opposition is his Affidavit.25 To the
extent the Court considers all other statements as supported by this Affidavit, Plaintiff
fares no better. Plaintiff’s Affidavit is replete with inadmissible hearsay, speculative and
conclusory statements, and is not in proper form. The last page of Plaintiff’s Affidavit
includes a Notary Acknowledgment that indicates that Plaintiff personally appeared in the
State of Louisiana, Parish of East Baton Rouge, before Notary Public Ramana Rao
Gudapati of Bibb County, Georgia. La. R.S. 35:5 provides that:
Oaths, acts, and acknowledgments taken, made, or executed by or before
any person purporting to be a notary public, duly appointed and duly
qualified in any other state, territory of the United States, or the District of
Columbia shall have the same force and effect without further proof of the
signatures as if taken, made, or executed by or before a notary public in
Louisiana.
Thus, an out-of-state notary public is permitted under Louisiana law to notarize a
Louisiana document. However, under both Louisiana and Georgia law, a notary public
may not notarize a document outside of his jurisdictional limits. La. R.S. 35:10 provides
that “[a]ll notarial acts shall be made and executed at any place within the jurisdictional
limits of the notary.” Under the Georgia Code, OCGA § 45-17-9, “[n]otarial acts may be
exercised in any county in the state.” As this Affidavit represents that a Georgia Notary
Public notarized a document in East Baton Rouge Parish, it is not properly notarized as
the notary is not authorized to notarize a document outside of the physical state of

25

Rec. Doc. No. 72-1 at 3-8.

52165 
Page 6 of 15 

Georgia. Accordingly, Plaintiff’s Affidavit is not admissible summary judgment evidence
for the foregoing reasons.
C. Rule 65 Permanent Injunction
“The legal standard for obtaining a permanent injunction mirrors the legal standard
for obtaining a preliminary injunction.”26 Thus, “[a] plaintiff must demonstrate ‘(1) actual
success on the merits; (2) a substantial threat that failure to grant the injunction will result
in irreparable injury; (3) the threatened injury outweighs any damage that the injunction
may cause the opposing party; and (4) the injunction will not disserve the public
interest.’”27 However, the notable difference between the legal standard for a preliminary
injunction and a permanent injunction is that the Plaintiff must demonstrate actual
success on the merits and not just a likelihood of success.28
Plaintiff’s arguments suggest confusion regarding the relief he seeks in this matter.
First, Plaintiff argues that he “does NOT request injunctive relief against the defendants
in their official capacity for violating his Federal/Constitutional Rights by way of Summary
Judgment.”29 However, Defendants have a right to pursue judgment via Rule 56 of the
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and once Defendants so move, Plaintiff is required to
respond under Rule 56. It is of no consequence that it may not be Plaintiff’s procedural
preference. To proceed to trial on his claims, Plaintiff must defeat Defendants’ summary

26

Viet Anh Vo v. Gee, 301 F.Supp.3d 661, 664 (E.D. La. 2017)(citing Lionhart v. Foster, 100 F.Supp.2d
383, 385–386 (E.D. La. 1999)).
27
Id. (quoting Causeway Med. Suite v. Foster, 43 F.Supp.2d 604, 610 (E.D. La. 1999)).
28
Id. (citing Lionhart, 100 F.Supp.2d 383, 386).
29
Rec. Doc. No. 72 at 1.

52165 
Page 7 of 15 

judgment motion according to the standard set forth above. Second, Plaintiff states that
“there is a substantial likelihood to success on the merits of this case,”30 but, as set forth
above, Plaintiff seeks a permanent injunction which requires Plaintiff to demonstrate
actual success on the merits. Finally, Plaintiff maintains that he “yet prefers Trial in lieu
of injunction because to grant simple re-admission would only suggest the violation of
Constitutional Right to be not just acceptable but preferred if those rights infringe upon
the face value of State funding institution and their sponsors.”31

This incoherent

statement is followed by an argument that a trial on the merits would serve the public
interests by purportedly publicly shaming the Defendants for their alleged actions which
“reflect a communist dictatorship not a democratic state govern [sic] by Constitutional
freedoms, rights, and liberties.”32 Notwithstanding Plaintiff’s arguments, his Opposition is
largely substantively unresponsive to the permanent injunction factors, and Plaintiff fails
to present summary judgment evidence to controvert the Defendants’ evidence as will be
detailed below.
D. Equal Protection Claim
The Court finds that Plaintiff has abandoned his Equal Protection claim. Indeed,
Plaintiff fails to mention or address his Equal Protection claim in either Opposition brief
filed in response to Defendants’ motion. By failing to even mention this claim, Plaintiff
effectively abandoned the claim and failed to meet his summary judgment burden in

30

Id. at 6.
Id. at 6-7.
32
Id. at 8.
31

52165 
Page 8 of 15 

demonstrating a fact issue regarding this claim.33 Defendants are entitled to summary
judgment on this claim.
E. Due Process Claim in the University Context
The United States Supreme Court has not addressed whether a university student
has a protected liberty or property interest in post-high school education. Although there
is disagreement among the circuit courts, the Fifth Circuit held in Dixon v. Ala. State Bd.
of Ed. that a university student has some type of protected interest which must be
appropriately safeguarded prior to expulsion.34 Following this precedent, the Court finds
that Defendants could not deprive Plaintiff of his law school education without adequate
due process.
The Court finds that Plaintiff was expelled subject primarily to a disciplinary
dismissal rather than an academic dismissal, which requires more due process
safeguards.35 Paraphrasing Dixon, the district court for the Western District of Louisiana
recently opined that, “[i]n the context of a disciplinary action, Dixon remains instructive:
[T]he notice should, we think, comply with the following standards. The
notice should contain a statement of the specific charges and grounds
which, if proven, would justify expulsion under the regulations of the Board
33

See Bell v. Lane, No. 12-00529-BAJ-SCR, 2014 WL 4925682 at *6 (M.D. La. Sep. 30, 2014)(quoting
Mid–Continent Cas. Co. v. Bay Rock Operating Co., 614 F.3d 105, 113 (5th Cir. 2010)(“The fact that
[plaintiff] raised this argument in its complaint will not save it from waiver if it failed to present this argument
in its summary judgment motions.”) (citation omitted); Vela v. City of Houston, 276 F.3d 659, 678–79 (5th
Cir. 2001); Penrod v. Bank of N.Y. Mellon, 824 F.Supp.2d 754, 763 (S.D.Tx. 2011)(“Plaintiffs' summary
judgment response has abandoned the claim, offering no briefing on the subject.”); see also Smith v. Cleco
Corp., 927 F.Supp.2d 382, 389 (W.D. La. 2013).
34
Pham v. University of Louisiana at Monroe, 194 F.Supp.3d 534, 543 (W.D. La. 2016)(citing Dixon, 294
F.2d 150, 157 (5th Cir.1961)).
35
Id. Defendants refer to Plaintiff’s dismissal as the result of a “quasi academic/quasi disciplinary
revocation.” Rec. Doc. No. 66-1 at 18. Because Defendants concede Plaintiff’s dismissal was, at least in
part, disciplinary in nature, the Court will apply the heightened standard of process due in this case.

52165 
Page 9 of 15 

of Education. The nature of the hearing should vary depending on the
circumstances of the particular case...[b]y its nature, charge of misconduct,
as opposed to a failure to meet the scholastic standards of the college,
depends upon a collection of the facts concerning the charged misconduct,
easily colored by the point of view of the witnesses. In such circumstances,
a hearing which gives the Board or administrative authorities of the college
an opportunity to hear both sides in considerable detail is best suited to
protect the rights of all involved. This is not to imply that a full-dress judicial
hearing, with the right to cross examine witnesses, is required...[i]n the
instant case, the student should be given the names of the witnesses
against him and an oral or written report on the facts to which each witness
testifies.36
In addition to the foregoing safeguards, a student is entitled to a neutral decisionmaker free from bias. “There is no question that a biased decision-maker renders a
disciplinary process unconstitutional.”37 However, “[i]n a school disciplinary context, the
level of impartiality required for the decision-maker does not reach the absolute neutrality
required in the criminal justice system.”38 Further, there is a presumption of honesty and
integrity in those serving as adjudicators.39 To sustain a procedural due process claim
based on bias, actual bias must be proved.40
“Additionally, a University’s departure from its own rules and regulations does not,
by itself, violate procedural due process unless the rule or regulation codifies the pertinent
constitutional standard.”41 A plaintiff has no due process right to state-implemented

36

Id. at 543-44.
Hess v. The Bd. of Tr. of Southern Ill. Univ., 149 F.Supp.3d 1027, 1041 (S.D.Ill. 2015) (citing Withrow v.
Larkin, 421 U.S. 35, 46–47, 95 S.Ct. 1456, 43 L.Ed.2d 712 (1975)); Batagiannis v. W. Lafayette Cty. Sch.
Corp., 454 F.3d 738, 742 (7th Cir. 2006).
38
Riggan v. Midland Indep. Sch. Dist., 86 F.Supp.2d 647, 656 (W.D.Tex. 2000).
39
See Withrow, 421 U.S. at 47, 95 S.Ct. 1456.
40
Pham, 194 F.Supp.3d at 544.
41
Id. (citing e.g.; Brown v. Univ. of Kansas, 16 F.Supp.3d 1275, 1290 (D.Kan.2014) aff'd 599 Fed.Appx.
833 (10th Cir.2015); Trotter v. Regents of Univ. of New Mexico, 219 F.3d 1179, 1185 (10th Cir.2000);
37

52165 
Page 10 of 15 

procedures; rather, the relevant inquiry is, at all times, whether or not a plaintiff has been
afforded constitutionally adequate notice and a constitutionally adequate hearing.42
However, the continuous violation of state-implemented rules could conceivably violate
procedural and/or substantive due process if such conduct shocks the conscience or
results in fundamentally unfair proceedings.43 Further, while case law has provided
general guidelines regarding specific procedures that should be employed in the
university context, “it is important to remember that ‘the requisite elements of procedural
due process are not wooden absolutes applicable to each case regardless of
circumstances.’”44
In addition to procedural due process, the Fourteenth Amendment also protects
substantive due process rights. The substantive component of the due process bars
certain arbitrary government actions, “even if their implementation is fair.”45

In

determining whether the university’s action was arbitrary in the constitutional sense, the
Court asks whether the action “shocks the conscience.”46 “In the case of the specific acts
of Defendants ‘only the most egregious official conduct’ is arbitrary in the constitutional
sense.”47
Schuler v. Univ. of Minn., 788 F.2d 510, 515 (8th Cir.1986); Jones v. Bd. of Gov. of North Carolina, 704
F.2d 713, 717 (4th Cir.1983); Shah, 54 F.Supp.3d at 681, n. 15; Cobb v. Rector and Visitors of Univ. of
Virginia, 69 F.Supp.2d 815, 828 (W.D.Va.1999); Edwards v. Bd. of Regents of Northwest Missouri State
Univ., 397 F.Supp. 822, 829–30 (W.D.Mo.1975).
42
Id.
43
Id.
44
Id. (quoting U.S. v. Richardson Indep. Sch. Dist., 483 F.Supp. 80, 85 (N.D.Tex.1979)).
45
Id. (quoting Dismukes v. Hackathorn, 802 F.Supp. 1442, 1447 (N.D.Miss.1992) (citations omitted)).
46
See Kinzie v. Dallas Cty. Hosp. Dist., 239 F.Supp.2d 618, 628 (N.D.Tex. 2003) (citations omitted).
47
Hess, 149 F.Supp.3d at 1043 (quoting Cty. of Sacramento v. Lewis, 523 U.S. 833, 845–46, 118 S.Ct.
1708, 140 L.Ed.2d 1043 (1998)).

52165 
Page 11 of 15 

Plaintiff has failed to argue or present summary judgment evidence regarding a
substantive due process claim. Plaintiff’s arguments and purported evidence ostensibly
focus on a procedural due process claim. Although Plaintiff has already failed to provide
summary judgment evidence to demonstrate materially disputed facts, the Court also
finds that the overwhelming, uncontroverted evidence submitted by Defendants
undermines any claim that Plaintiff was not afforded necessary due process under the
facts of this case.
Defendants’ statement of uncontested facts is set forth below, and each statement
is supported and demonstrated by the referenced exhibit(s).

2011 Cannon submitted his application and resume to SULC, signed
February 8, 2011 and received by SULC Admissions on February 15, 2011.
The SULC Admission form instructs all applicants to fully identify any past
criminal actions in sections C & D. Ex. 1, Ex. 15, Att. V.
2013-8-14 Vice Chancellor White, by email, provided all SULC students with
a Character & Fitness reminder, which was then incorporated into the
written 2014 Student handbook, as well as the forms to be used if amending
or supplementing and emphasized the importance of doing so. Ex. 19, Att.
V.
2014-3 Cannon applied to the Georgia State Bar Association for possible
admission in Georgia after completion of law school and authorized SULC
to provide requested forms and information. The SULC Registrar received
the request April 1, 2014 and responded with the form April 7, 2014. Ex. 2,
Att. VIII.
2014 The Georgia State Bar Association notified Cannon of inconsistencies
in his listing past criminal charges in the Georgia and SULC applications
and notified him no further actions would be taken until corrections were
made. Ex. 6 & 9.
52165 
Page 12 of 15 

2014-8-20 The SULC Admissions Committee (AC), charged with review of
applications for future enrollment and requests for an amendment or
supplement to those initial applications, received Cannon’s request to
amend his 2011 application to include two prior criminal listings from 2009
and 2010 and change his answer from no to yes in ‘Character and Fitness’
section asking if there were past charges. They reviewed the request
pursuant to SULC Administrative procedures. Ex. 4 & 26, Att. V, VIII.
2014-8-20 VC White met with Cannon to review the amendment request.
Cannon stated his attorneys advised him that it was not required to include
the charges for the law school process, only for State Bar Admissions. VC
White advised Cannon to get a letter from that attorney for the AC to explain
the omission in 2011 for consideration of the 2014 application amendment.
No letter was produced by Cannon for the AC. Vice-Chancellor White
shared with the AC Cannon’s explanation. The 2014 members of the AC
were: Vice-Chancellor White (chair); Vice Chancellor for Evening Division
John Pierre (co-chair); Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Russell Jones
(co-chair); Director of Admissions Andrea Love; Professor Nadia Nedzel;
Professor Ollivette Mencer; and Professor Arthur Stallworth. Ex. 3, Att. II &
VIII.
2014-8-22 The AC, applying the SULC review procedures, unanimously
rejected Cannon’s request to amend and, pursuant to the terms and
conditions in the application and the SULC Student Handbook, notified
Cannon his admission was rescinded. Ex. 3, Att. V,VIII.
2014-8-22 Vice-Chancellor John Pierre, a member of the AC, wrote Cannon
of the AC’s rejection of his appeal and his administrative dismissal for his
failure to include the information in his initial 2011 application pursuant to
the notices and authority outlined in that admission process. Ex. 4, Att. III.
2014-8-23 VC White notified Cannon that the AC decision, addressed to his
address on file, should be picked up. Ex. 5, Att. V.
2014-8-26 Cannon appealed to Chancellor Freddie Pitcher. Cannon was
permitted to remain in school during the Appeal. Ex. 6, Att. II & V.
2014-9-4 A letter from Chancellor Pitcher, with the name of the addressee
removed, states an appeal has been granted. Ex. 13, Att. II.
2015-1-9 Chancellor Pitcher denied Cannon’s appeal. Ex. 7, Att. II.
52165 
Page 13 of 15 

2015-1-20 Cannon appealed to the SUS President Ron Mason. Ex. 8.
2015-2-3 Monique Guillory-Winfield, Vice-President for Academic and
Student Affairs for SUS, emailed that she reviewed the material submitted
to the System office and provided information to the administration
regarding a questionable letter dated 9-4-2014 included. Ex. 20, Att. II, III &
VII.
2015-2-6 SUS President Mason denied Cannon’s appeal and informed him
he could appeal to the full Board. Ex. 8, Att. II & III.
2015-8-3 Cannon appealed to the SUS Board. Ex. 9, 18 & 21, Att. II, IV, V
& VII.
2015-8-4 SUS counsel Tracie Woods acknowledged the appeal to be
reviewed. Ex. 21, Att. VII.
2015-8-6 Cannon sent to Board Chair Dr. Leon Tarver and the Board
additional information about his appeal with a request to respond to his
Attorney Dan Scheuermann. Ex. 18, Att.VI.
2015-9-18 SUS Board counsel Woods sent schedule information to
Scheuermann. Ex. 22, Att. VII.
2015-10-14 & 22 SUS Board counsel Tracie Woods sent information to
second attorney Willie Zanders, identifying the date and times of the Board
meeting to consider Cannon’s appeal. Ex. 23, 24, Att. VII.
2015 – 10 Zanders, on behalf of Cannon, submitted an appeal packet of
letters, emails and documents for the Board’s consideration on why to grant
the appeal. This included the purported 9-4-2014 Pitcher letter granting
appeal with the argument it was sent to Cannon and could not be changed.
Ex. 9, Att. IV,VI,VII.
2015-10-23 The Board met on October 23, 2015 for a regularly scheduled
Board meeting and took up Cannon’s appeal. In so doing, they went into
Executive Session and reviewed the materials submitted by Cannon and
Zanders. The Board, back in open session, voted 10 to 2 to deny Cannon’s
appeal, affirming the original August 22, 2014 decision by the AC and the
denials of the appeal by Chancellor Pitcher and President Mason in 2015.
Ex. 9&10, Att. III, IV,V, VI & VII.
52165 
Page 14 of 15 

2015-10-27 Board Counsel Woods notified Zanders of the 10 to 2 vote to
deny the appeal. Ex. 10, Att. VII.
2016-9-12 Cannon sent a request for a re-hearing to Board Chair Tarver
who denied the request. Ex. 12, Att. VI.
2017-8-8 Cannon’s Original Complaint was filed by Zanders. Doc. 1.48
Considering the uncontroverted summary judgment evidence submitted by Defendants,
which establishes that Plaintiff received procedural due process before his expulsion from
SULC, the Court finds that there are not genuine disputes of material fact that preclude
summary judgment in favor of Defendants.
III.

CONCLUSION
For the reasons set forth above, the Defendants’ Motion for Summary Judgment49

is GRANTED, and Plaintiff’s claims are dismissed with prejudice. Judgment shall be
entered accordingly.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Signed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on June 27, 2019.

S

CHIEF JUDGE SHELLY D. DICK
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA

48
49

Rec. Doc. No. 66-1 at 2-5.
Rec. Doc. No. 66.

52165 
Page 15 of 15