Al-Dabagh v. Case Western Reserve University
Filing
18
Opinion and Order signed by Judge James S. Gwin on 6/2/14 issuing a permanent injunction and ordering Case Western Reserve University to issue a diploma to plaintiff as set forth in this entry. (Related Docs. 2 , 12 , 14 , 15 , 16 ) (M,G)
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO
------------------------------------------------------:
AMIR A. AL-DABAGH,
:
:
Plaintiff,
:
:
vs.
:
:
CASE WESTERN RESERVE
:
UNIVERSITY,
:
:
Defendant.
:
:
-------------------------------------------------------
CASE NO. 1:14-CV-01046
OPINION & ORDER
[Resolving Docs. 2, 12, 14, 15, & 16]
JAMES S. GWIN, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE:
Against an unusual background, Plaintiff Amir Al-Dabagh claims Defendant Case Western
Reserve University School of Medicine broke a contract with him when it refused to award him a
diploma. Similar issue have been presented in other cases but seldom with the same factual
background.
Courts have reviewed claims that private universities wrongfully expelled students or
wrongfully refused to grant a diploma. But most of those cases came after the university decided
that the student was not cutting the academic mustard.
In contrast here, Case agrees that Plaintiff Al-Dabagh more than met all academic
requirements. Reflecting this, in the days before it began expulsion efforts, Case wrote Al-Dabagh
that he had qualified for special recognition at graduation for the research he performed while in
medical school.
Although Al-Dabagh successfully completed all the medical school curriculum; passed all
national tests; successfully completed his thesis; and paid all his fees, Case intends to deny AlDabagh a diploma because Al-Dabagh failed to notify Case that he had been arrested in 2012 in
Case No. 1:14-CV-01046
Gwin, J.
North Carolina for driving while impaired by alcohol. And Case would deny the diploma though
Case’s own student handbook only required students to report convictions and did not require
students to report arrests.
Although Al-Dabagh met all other University requirements, Case says it requires students
to demonstrate professionalism and Al-Dabagh was unprofessional when Al-Dabagh did not report
the arrest. Al-Dabagh had received earlier warnings regarding other conduct and Case says AlDabagh should have appreciated that he needed to report the arrest in light of the earlier warnings,
even though none of the earlier warnings said anything about such a duty to report.
In earlier periods of his training, Case warned Al-Dabagh after 1) he was late for three first
year classes and he asked the class instructor not to mark him as late for at least one class; 2) he
drank too much alcohol before going to a dance scheduled early in his training, then harassed two
women students in an effort to dance with them, and finally leaped out of a moving taxi; 3) a notidentified student reported that Al-Dabagh had led group discussions on patients without having
personally examined the patients; and 4) a patient’s family asked that Al-Dabagh not treat their
relative although the family earlier asked that other physicians also be removed from treating their
relative.
Although Al-Dabagh disputed some part of each of these incidents, Case says they give
context to its decision to refuse a diploma for Al-Dabagh after he did not report the North Carolina
arrest for driving while impaired by alcohol.
Two incidents involved Al-Dabagh becoming drunk. Neither of those incidents involved
patient care or educational work. And Case does not argue that it seeks to expel Al-Dabagh for
alcohol problems. Case says it “didn't believe he had an alcohol problem.” And Case says its
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Gwin, J.
decision “is not about alcohol per se.”
So, this Court needs decide whether Case breached its contract when it refused a diploma.
Case otherwise agrees that Al-Dabagh met all its graduation requirements except it says he did not
show “professionalism.”
The Court recognizes that educational institutions receive extreme latitude when deciding
whether students meet educational standards. But here, the Court considers what discretion courts
should give educational institutions when the educational institution judges character, not academic
competence. So, this opinion first looks at how much discretion Case should receive when it’s
professionalism judgment really examines Al-Dabagh’s character. The Court then considers
whether Case abused that discretion when it refused Al-Dabagh the diploma he had otherwise
earned.
For Al-Dabagh, the stakes are high. Al-Dabagh completed (and paid for) five years of
medical school. He has successfully published more than a dozen articles or book chapters on
dermatology, including an article published in one of the leading dermatology journals. And the
physician who supervised his dermatology research described Al-Dabagh as “quite the team player,
. . . willing to lend a helping hand even without being asked to do so. He is well read, punctual and
prepared for his clinics. His caring demeanor is apparent when he interacts with patients. He
exhibited a can do, help others spirit that has been a huge benefit to research projects, helping other
students and faculty on collaborative review articles and original research.” If denied injunctive
relief, Al-Dabagh’s medical career will be lost or significantly diminished.
So the Court examines whether Case acted arbitrarily when Case found Al-Dabagh’s failure
to report the North Carolina arrest sufficiently shows a lack of professionalism that justified
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expelling Al-Dabagh only weeks before his graduation and only two months before he was
scheduled to start his residency.
Plaintiff Amir Al-Dabagh attended Defendant Case Western Reserve University’s School
of Medicine for five years. His elective course work focused on dermatology. In April 2014, Case
told Al-Dabagh that he would receive an honors designation for his research. Riverside Hospital,
Columbus, Ohio accepted Al-Dabagh to its dermatology residency program.
Within days of telling Al-Dabagh that he would receive an honors citation at his graduation,
Case Western told Al-Dabagh that it deny the diploma and would expel him unless he withdrew.
Al-Dabagh brings this lawsuit saying Case Western’s Medical School breached its contract
with him and violated its obligation of good faith and fair dealing in carrying out that contract.
Case responds that it denies a diploma because Al-Dabagh did not show “professionalism.”
Case relies upon four examples. First, in his first year, Al-Dabagh was five to ten minutes late for
a class and Al-Dabagh may have asked his instructor not to mark him late. Second, Al-Dabagh went
drunk to a school dance, harassed two women to dance with him, and may have grabbed another
woman’s behind and argued with that woman’s date. Later that night and while drunk, Al-Dabagh
then tried to stiff a cab driver by rolling out of a moving cab to avoid paying his bill. Third, an
unidentified student said Al-Dabagh presented on a patient he had not personally examined. Fourth,
a patient’s family asked that Al-Dabagh not treat their relative when Al-Dabagh was doing an
internal medicine internship, likely for personality reasons.
Finally, Case decided to deny a diploma and expel Al-Dabagh after learning that Al-Dabagh
had been involved in a February 2013 single car automobile accident and had been charged with
driving under the influence of alcohol. Case did not choose to expel Al-Dabagh for abusing alcohol
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but because he failed to report his arrest and the pending misdemeanor charges. Case says AlDabagh’s failure to report his arrest and the failure to report the pending misdemeanor case
undermined his professionalism.
Al-Dabagh sues Case and seeks a permanent injunction compelling the School of Medicine
to give him a diploma. Case opposes the injunction.
For the reasons that follow, the Court GRANTS the request for a permanent injunction.
I. Background
A.
Factual Background
Amir Al-Dabagh, a citizen of Michigan,1/ began attending Case Western Reserve
University’s School of Medicine in the Fall of 2009.2/
Academically, Al-Dabagh performed well at Case Western’s Medical School. Describing
Al-Dabagh in July 2012, Medical School Dean Haynie said: “Al-Dabagh is well-regarded by our
faculty and administrators. . . . [H]is work is entirely satisfactory and he is performing at a high level
in all of his required courses.” Describing Al-Dabagh in a 2011 letter, Dean Haynie summarized
Al-Dabagh’s academic performance: “As a medical student, Amir has continued his academic
excellence having mastered both the science and clinical curriculum without any difficulty as well
as continue his interest in research. . . . I can there for [sic] recommend Amir A. Al-Dabagh highly
without any reservations.”
Despite his academic standing, Case disciplined Al-Dabagh on several occasions.
1/
Al-Dabagh is a citizen of Michigan. Case Western is a citizen of Ohio. Case also represented that the value
of one year of tuition at Case is over $50,000. Because Al-Dabagh attended the University actively for four years, the
Court finds that the parties are diverse and the amount in controversy of this breach of contract case exceeds $75,000.
Therefore, the Court has jurisdiction over this case pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1332(a)(1).
2/
Doc. 2-2, Al-Dabagh Decl. at 1 ¶ 3.
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In his first year, Al-Dabagh participated in a small group session, called an Inquiry Group.3/
In January 2010, the faculty evaluator observed that Al-Dabagh showed up late “three times, from
10 to 25 min[utes] each time. On one occasion he was supposed to be a leader, and the group could
not start on time.”4/ The evaluator also noted that “each time he came in late, Amir asked me for a
‘private’ talk and then asked [the evaluator] not to mark him late. I consider this a more serious
breach of professionalism.”5/
Al-Dabagh acknowledges that he was late for three of the eleven sessions but says the time
was minimal. And Al-Dabagh says that he only requested forbearance on one occasion when he
hosted a prospective student for the University.6/ The University gives no evidence this explanation
is incorrect.
Al-Dabagh was late three times. The Inquiry Group had eleven two-hour sessions so AlDabagh missed only a small fraction of the group time. Case recognizes the lost class time is
inconsequential but believed Al-Dabagh’s request to avoid late markings had been dishonest.
In January 2012, Case disciplined Al-Dabagh. Plaintiff Al-Dabagh attended the School of
Medicine’s “Hippo Ball.”7/ After the Ball, three students complained that Al-Dabagh was drunk at
the dance and harassed several women with dance requests.8/ Another female student said that AlDabagh touched her bottom without her permission.9/ And that woman’s date said he had a loud
3/
See Doc. 15-9.
4/
Id. at 1.
5/
Id. at 2. Arriving late could affect a student’s grade. Id.
6/
Doc. 14-1, Al-Dabagh Decl. at 2 ¶ 12.
Doc. 2-2, Al-Dabagh Decl. at 2 ¶ 11.
7/
8/
Doc. 12-1 at 2.
9/
Id. at 4.
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confrontation with Al-Dabagh about the groping incident.10/
Al-Dabagh generally denied acting offensively and argued that faculty members present at
the dance did not see any quarrels.11/
After the Ball, Al-Dabagh used a cab to go home.12/ Intoxicated, Al-Dabagh apparently
attempted to stiff the cab driver by using a $1 bill to pay a $20 fare. When the cab driver began to
look for a police officer, he said Al-Dabagh opened the door and jumped from the vehicle.13/
Bystanders called the police, and Al-Dabagh was taken to Cleveland Metro Hospital.14/
The Committee on Students—a collection of faculty “charged with the responsibility of
reviewing the total performance of all students in the School of Medicine,” with “authority for
decisions on student standing and student promotions and graduation,”and that “recommends to the
Faculty of Medicine candidates for the award of the degree”15/—reviewed the incident relating to
the Hippo Ball and the Inquiry Group tardiness issue.16/ On February 16, 2012, the Committee
“require[d] an intervention on professionalism” for Al-Dabagh and warned him that “any further
issues will result in them being reported and discussed at the COS [Committee on Students] Meeting
with potential dismissal from Medical School.”17/
Al-Dabagh passed the next several years without any discipline issues at Case. Reflecting
this, on July 24, 2012, Dr. Robert Haynie, Associate Dean for Student Affairs and a member of the
10/
Id. at 3.
11/
Doc. 2-2, Al-Dabagh Decl. at 2 ¶¶ 11-12.
12/
Id. at 2 ¶ 13.
13/
Id.
14/
Id.
Doc. 2-8 at 1.
15/
16/
Doc. 15-5, Haynie Aff. at 3 ¶ 11.
17/
Doc. 15-10 at 2.
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Committee on Students, sent a recommendation letter on Al-Dabagh’s behalf to the American
Academy of Dermatology.18/ Dr. Haynie said that Al-Dabagh’s “work is entirely satisfactory and
he is performing at a high level in all of his required courses.”19/ The letter did not mention any
concerns about Al-Dabagh’s professionalism.
Starting in June 2012, Plaintiff Al-Dabagh spent a year at Wake Forest University on a
research fellowship and later a paid position. While at Wake Forest, Wake Forest paid Al-Dabagh
although Al-Dabagh paid a small amount of tuition to Case, and he received some academic credit
for his time doing dermatology research at Wake Forest.20/
On February 3, 2013, and while employed by Wake Forest and while in North Carolina, AlDabagh crashed a vehicle into a telephone pole, and was arrested.21/ It was a single car collision and
no one was hurt. Police charged him with driving while impaired.22/ The charge remained pending
for more than a year without resolution. Al-Dabagh did not tell Case about the incident.
When Al-Dabagh returned to Case from Wake Forest, he began receiving clinical instruction
.23/ During this return for clinical instruction, Al-Dabagh did an internal medicine rotation and
received a critical evaluation after a patient’s family complained about him.
Apparently, the patient had competency issues. The patient’s family complained about AlDabagh’s treatment. Also, an anonymous evaluation said several hospital staff members made
several complaints about Al-Dabagh’s treatment of staff.
18/
Doc. 10-6.
19/
Id.
20/
Id. at 1 ¶ 4; Doc. 2-6 at 2.
Doc. 2-2, Al-Dabagh Decl. at 3 ¶¶ 20-21.
21/
22/
Doc. 2-2, Al-Dabagh Decl. at 3 ¶¶ 20-21.
23/
Id. at 2 ¶ 15.
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In response, Al-Dabagh said the patient had been difficult, especially for a student new to
this internal medicine rotation. He also argued that the patient’s family had already “fired” nurses
and physicians who had given care to the patient. Al-Dabagh also said that he faced a situation
where two attending nurses gave contrary recommendations regarding whether a PICC (peripherally
inserted central catheter) should be inserted. Case had no additional information about the incident.
After the incident involving the patient family’s complaint, the Committee on Students met
again concerning Al-Dabagh and required him to repeat the rotation and to complete gender specific
training.24/
The Committee also added an addendum to his Medical Student Performance Evaluation
(MSPE) letter.25/
Medical schools provide MSPE letters to specialty residency programs
considering medical student applications.26/ The Addendum noted that Al-Dabagh received a
satisfactory grade with concerns during the internal medicine rotation and that Case required him
to repeat the internal medicine internship.27/ Upon repeating the internship, Case again passed AlDabagh with concerns but said Al-Dabagh “did show improvement compared to the first rotation.”28/
Case best summarizes Al-Dabagh’s performance in medical school in its MSPE letter:
Mr. Amir Al-Dabagh is a bright, hardworking, caring, senior medical student who
has demonstrated consistent growth in his approach to his medical education. His
performance in the core clinical clerkships has predominately fallen in the
commendable range. Mr. Al-Dabagh possesses a solid knowledge base and growing
clinical acumen including mature clinical judgment. His interpersonal skills are
strong and he works well with patients and members of the healthcare team. It is a
24/
Id. at 5-6 ¶¶ 19-20; Doc. 15-12 at 2.
25/
Docs. 15-5, Haynie Aff. at 5-6 ¶¶ 19-20; 15-12 at 2.
Doc. 15-5, Haynie Aff. at 6 ¶ 21.
26/
27/
Doc. 15-13 at 5.
28/
Doc. 15-13 at 8.
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great pleasure to present Mr. Al-Dabagh to you as an excellent candidate for
residency training.29/
Rather than alter any of that glowing language, the University’s added an “ADDENDUM”
after the summary, which discussed Al-Dabagh’s internal medicine rotation:
At our Committee on Students’ recommendation, this addendum is being added to
Amir Al’ Dabagh’s medical student performance evaluation. Amir was presented
to this committee on November 22, 2013 as a result of his medicine AI (acting
internship) performance at University Hospitals of Cleveland. Our rotation grading
is as follows: H (Honors), C (Commendable), S (Satisfactory), U (Unsatisfactory),
and Satisfactory with Concerns. Amir received a Satisfactory with Concerns as a
result of issues raised by his attendings and other staff. Once Amir was made aware
of these concerns, he did improve to the point of passing the rotation. However,
given several earlier concerns, the Committee on Students recommended that Amir
repeat the rotation and work on other corrective actions as outlined by one of our
senior faculty members who sits on the Committee on Students. On the repeat of the
acting internship, Amir again received a grade of passing with concerns, but he did
show improvement compared to the first rotation.30/
So heading towards graduation, Plaintiff Al-Dabagh had successfully completed all diploma
requirements. But during his five years of medical training, Case had disciplined Al-Dabagh for
trying to cover three late attendances; for rude behavior at a dance where he had likely been drunk;
for trying to skirt a cab fare by idiotically leaving a moving car; for complaints from a patient’s
family; and for giving patient case summaries where he might not have personally examined the
patient.
On April 7, 2014, a North Carolina state court convicted Al-Dabagh of Driving While
Impaired and an additional Careless and Reckless finding, both misdemeanors.31/ He received a 120day suspended jail term, one year of unsupervised probation, 48 hours of community service, a
29/
Id. at 5.
30/
Id.
31/
Docs. 2-13, Roberts Aff. at 1 ¶¶ 4-5; 15-16 at 2.
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substance abuse assessment, a fine, and court costs.32/ On April 9, 2014, Al-Dabagh’s lawyer
emailed a letter to Al-Dabagh summarizing the outcome of the case.33/ The letter suggests that AlDabagh had not been present when the North Carolina court reached its verdict or entered its
judgment.
Regarding timing, the North Carolina court apparently decided Al-Dabagh’s case on April
7, 2014, and on a submission. On April 9, 2014, Al-Dabagh’s attorney notified Al-Dabagh of the
conviction by email.
Al-Dabagh notified Riverside Hospital, the site of his residency program.34/ Al-Dabagh says
he intended to notify Case but the director of Riverside’s residency program called Dr. Haynie first.
Riverside called Dr. Haynie most likely on April 9, 2014.35/
So Al-Dabagh first knew of the conviction on April 9, 2014. Likely, he called Riverside
Hospital the same day to report the conviction. And Al-Dabagh had not reported the conviction to
Dr. Haynie before Riverside told Dr. Haynie about the conviction, likely on the same day, April 9,
2014.
On April 10, 2014, Case sent Al-Dabagh a letter telling Al-Dabagh that he had qualified to
receive an award certificate for “Honors with Distinction in Research” that would be awarded at
graduation.36/ Dr. Haynie signed the letter together with other medical school deans.
However, on April 14, 2014, the University sent Al-Dabagh a notice that the Committee on
32/
Doc 15-16 at 2.
33/
Id.
34/
Doc. 2-2, Al-Dabagh Decl. at 3 ¶ 27.
35/
Doc. 15-5, Haynie Aff. at 8 ¶ 30.
36/
Doc. 2-7.
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Students would review his “progress in medical school and may issue sanctions” over
professionalism issues based on the DWI conviction.37/
After an April 17, 2014, meeting, the Committee voted to dismiss Al-Dabagh from the
University for “continued and serious breaches in the code of conduct and standards of
professionalism.”38/ The Committee later amended its decision to allow Al-Dabagh the opportunity
to withdraw.39/ Case’s graduation occurred on May 17, 2014, and Al-Dabagh was not given a
diploma. He is scheduled to begin a residency program at the Riverside Hospital in Columbus on
June 17, 2014, although he cannot do so if he does not receive a diploma from Case.40/
B.
Case’s Policies
The University’s School of Medicine has a Student Handbook.41/ The Handbook says its
terms are not a contract,42/
Despite these disclaimers, Case’s relation with Al-Dabagh was
contractual although the terms of that contract must be interpreted against the educational
background the parties shared.43/
37/
Doc. 2-14.
38/
Doc. 2-15.
39/
Doc. 2-16.
40/
Doc. 2-2, Al-Dabagh Decl. at 4 ¶¶ 29-30.
41/
See Doc. 15-1.
42/
Id. at 2.
43/
See Bleicher v. Univ. of Cincinnati College of Med., 78 Ohio App. 3d 302, 308 (1992) (“It is axiomatic that
‘* * * when a student enrolls in a college or university, pays his or her tuition and fees, and attends such school, the
resulting relationship may reasonably be construed as being contractual in nature.’ The terms of the contract between
the university and the student are generally found in the college catalog and handbooks supplied to students.”); Cornett
v. Miami Univ., 728 N.E.2d 471, 473 (Ohio Ct. Cl. 2000) (“It is well recognized that when a student enrolls in a college
or university, pays his or her tuition and fees, and attends the school, the resulting relationship is construed as contractual
in nature.”); Mangla v. Brown Univ., 135 F.3d 80, 83 (1st Cir. 1998) (college-student relationship is essentially
contractual in nature); Russell v. Salve Regina College, 890 F.2d 484, 489 (1st Cir. 1989) (state contract law governs
student and university relationship); Holert v. Univ. of Chicago, 751 F. Supp. 1294, 1300 (N.D. Ill. 1990) (“Under
Illinois law, a university and its students have a contractual relationship; the terms of their contract are generally set forth
in the university's catalogs and manuals.”).
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The Student Handbook describes the requirements to graduate.44/ Plaintiff Al-Dabagh
satisfied all Case’s requirements except the requirement that he be approved by the Committee on
Students.
The Case Western Medical School Handbook says that the Committee on Students will
consider professionalism when it decides whether to approve a student for graduation. The
Handbook defines “Professionalism” as:
Consistently demonstrates ethical, honest, responsible and reliable behavior.
Identifies challenges to professionalism and develops a strategy to maintain
professional behaviors when adherence to professional standards is threatened in the
clinical and/or research settings.
Engages in respectful dialogue with peers, faculty and patients, to enhance learning
and resolve differences.
Recognizes personal limitations and biases and finds ways to overcome them.45/
As earlier described, to graduate, a student must complete all parts of the school’s
curriculum, pass the national medical examinations, complete a thesis, meet all financial obligations,
and “[b]e approved to graduate by the Committee on Students.”47/
44/
The Student Handbook says the graduation requirement are:
In order to receive the MD degree from the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine,
students must:
1. Satisfactorily complete all Basic Science and Clinical components of the School of Medicine curriculum
2. Pass the USMLE Step 1 and USMLE Step 2 CK and CS.
3. Satisfactorily complete their MD Thesis
4. Meet all financial obligations in a timely fashion to the University
5. Be approved to graduate by the Committee on Students
Doc. 2-4 at 1.
45/
Id. at 42, 49, 93.
47/
Id. at 61.
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The Committee on Students has nine voting members and several non-voting members.48/
The Committee reviews student performance, including “professional attitudes and behavior as well
as compliance with the University’s Standards of Conduct.”49/ “Medical school education entails
the mastery of didactic, theoretical, and technical material, as well as the demonstration of
appropriate professional and interpersonal behavior, sensitivity, sense of responsibility, and ethics,
and the ability to conduct oneself suitably with patients, colleagues, co-workers and others.
Unprofessional activities may also be subject to a formal university disciplinary action.”50/
Therefore, the Committee may “question the student on any matter relevant to the student’s
academic performance, Standards of Conduct violations, professional behavior or attitudes.”51/ “The
Committee on Students acts on behalf of the Faculty of Medicine in non-academic disciplinary
matters involving medical students. The Committee on Students will uphold the Standards of
Conduct and Judicial procedures” as described in the undergraduate handbook.52/
The undergraduate handbook defines “Conduct that is subject to university disciplinary
action” as including, among other things, “All forms of dishonesty” and “Violations of law on
university premises or in connection with university functions.”53/
The School of Medicine’s Handbook also tells students to “notify their Society Dean of any
new misdemeanor or felony convictions . . . since matriculation.”54/ No provision requires students
48/
Id. at 59.
49/
Id.
Id. The Handbook also refers students to the University Disciplinary process.
50/
51/
Id. at 60.
52/
Id.
53/
Doc. 2-18.
54/
Doc. 15-1 at 72 (emphasis added)
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to report arrests.
C.
Procedural History
On May 14, 2014, Al-Dabagh sued Case for breach of contract and moved for a temporary
restraining order and a preliminary injunction.55/ Al-Dabagh sought an order from this Court that
Case issue him a diploma and barring Case from dismissing him or telling anyone he has been
dismissed.56/
On that same day, in light of the serious harm that would come to Plaintiff’s career should
he be dismissed, the Court temporarily restrained the Case from dismissing him or telling anyone
that he had been dismissed until a subsequent hearing.57/
On May 19, 2014, Case consented to a continuation of the temporary restraining order, and
both parties agreed to consolidate the expedited proceedings for the preliminary and permanent
injunction.58/ The parties also agreed to submit exhibits and declarations.
After full briefing, the Court held oral argument on whether an injunction should issue
requiring Case to grant a diploma to Al-Dabagh.59/
II. Legal Standard
In order for the Court to grant injunctive relief to Plaintiff Al-Dabagh, the Court must
consider four factors: 1) the likelihood of success on the merits; 2) whether irreparable injury would
come to Plaintiff that cannot be remedied with damages if the injunction does not issue; 3) whether
55/
Docs. 1 (complaint); 2 (motion for preliminary injunction); 3 (motion for temporary restraining order).
56/
Docs. 2; 3.
57/
Doc. 9.
58/
Doc. 13 at 1.
59/
See Doc. 17.
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substantial harm would come to Defendant and others if the injunction issues; and 4) the public
interest.60/
III. Analysis
A.
Success on the Merits
Plaintiff Al-Dabagh says that the Case’s decision to deny him a diploma is a breach of the
contract that he has with the University.61/
When a student challenges a university’s actions on the basis that those actions constitute
a breach of contract,
great deference is accorded a university when making decisions that pertain to the
academic performance of students and their entitlement to promotion or graduation.
Thus, a reviewing court is not to disturb a genuinely academic decision unless “it is
such a substantial departure from accepted academic norms as to demonstrate that
the person or committee responsible did not actually exercise professional
judgment.” The standard of review, therefore, is not merely whether a court would
have decided the matter differently but, rather, whether the university's action was
arbitrary and capricious.62/
However, when a university purports to withhold a degree for non-academic reasons, courts
review university actions more stringently.63/ Given the limitation of “arbitrary and capricious”
review to “genuinely academic decisions,”64/ no reason exists to think that Ohio courts would do
60/
See Jolivette v. Husted, 694 F.3d 760, 765 (6th Cir. 2010).
61/
Doc. 1 at 5-7 ¶¶ 31-49. Al-Dabagh also says he is entitled to damages and a declaratory judgment. If the
Court grants the injunctive relief requested, these types of relief are unnecessary.
62/
Pham v. Case W. Reserve Univ., No. 71083, 1997 WL 156689, at *2 (Ohio Ct. App. Apr. 3, 1997) (quoting
Regents of Univ. of Mich. v. Ewing, 474 U.S. 214, 225 (1985)). Case Western argues that Al-Dabagh cannot rely on any
of the student handbooks because they contain a disclaimer that says the handbooks do not constitute an offer or a
contract. Doc. 15 at 19. However, Ohio courts do treat handbooks and bulletins as creating contractual terms, see Pham,
1997 WL 156689 at *3, so this Court will as well.
63/
See Jayme L. Butcher, Comment, MIT v. Yoo: Revocation of Academic Degrees for Non-Academic Reasons,
51 Case W. Res. L. Rev. 749, 759-61 (2001).
64/
Pham, 1997 WL 156689 at *2.
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differently.
Case says that it is entitled to full deference to its decision to dismiss Al-Dabagh because it
based its decision on its determination that Al-Dabagh did not demonstrate “professionalism.”65/
While Case should receive great discretion in judging academic standards, the determination
of “professionalism” goes well beyond academic or patient related matters. The University’s
definition of “professionalism” expresses a moral judgment, rather than an evaluation against a set
of specialized criteria. Case describes professionalism in moral judgment terms: “ethical, honest,
responsible and reliable behavior”; “respectful dialogue”; “personal limitations and biases”; and
“professional and interpersonal behavior, sensitivity, sense of responsibility, and ethics, and the
ability to conduct oneself suitably.”
Although courts should give almost complete deference to university judgments regarding
academic issues, the same deference does not follow university character judgments, especially on
character judgments only distantly related to medical education.
Ultimately, Case denied Al-Dabagh a diploma because it believed he should have reported
an out-of-state arrest and prosecution for driving while impaired that had not yet concluded and
despite University Handbook provisions that did not require an arrest be reported. It also believed
he earlier dissembled regarding being late for class and earlier dissembled by giving summaries on
patients when he might, or might not, have examined the patient before giving the summary.
Medical schools have no special expertise regarding judging character for honesty. When
the university bases its judgments on a student’s character, the university lacks the expertise that
65/
Doc. 15 at 19. Case Western appears to have abandoned its claim that it could dismiss Al-Dabagh for
violating the student code of conduct.
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warrants deference.66/
Accordingly, although the Court will review the University’s decision with deference, the
Court will probe Case’s explanations more closely because Case voted to dismiss Al-Dabagh for
his lack of “professionalism” rather than his in-class performance. And in considering his
“professionalism,” Case almost completely focused on whether Al-Dabagh was honest.
The University argues that Al-Dabagh’s record at Case shows that he has a character lacking
honesty.
The importance of the previous incidents considered by the Committee on Students is belied
by Case’s letters of recommendation. After Al-Dabagh allegedly harassed two female students,
allegedly almost engaged in a physical confrontation with another male student, and allegedly leaped
from a moving taxi cab to avoid paying his fare, Dr. Haynie told potential employers that AlDabagh’s “work is entirely satisfactory and he is performing at a high level in all of his required
courses” and made no mention of any concerns regarding professionalism.67/
And after the Committee on Students saw Al-Dabagh for a second time concerning his
internal medicine rotation, the Committee only added an addendum to an otherwise glowing
recommendation.
That letter did not mention any concerns with professionalism, just vague
“issues” and “concerns.”68/ The addendum, completed in January 2014, mentions nothing other than
Al-Dabagh’s redoing an acting internship rotation.
The University argues that these glowing letters show that Case attempted to support its
66/
See Ewing, 474 U.S. at 225 (“accepted academic norms” and “actually exercise professional judgment”).
67/
Doc. 10-6..
68/
Doc. 15-13 at 5.
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students as much as possible, not that the Committee was not concerned about the incidents.
Obviously, this argument proves too much. Case’s argument implies that Case Medical held
grave concerns regarding Al-Dabagh but then misrepresented to residency programs by omitting the
school’s true opinion regarding Al-Dabagh’s qualifications. And the University made these
representations to residency programs regarding the highly important choice of which students
should be selected for residency programs.
While saying that candor is essential, Case Western Medical School gave a most important
evaluation that Case now says did not truly reflect its opinion.
Against such a backdrop, the
University’s argument that Al-Dabagh’s lack of complete condor on the arrest for driving while
impaired disqualifies him from practicing medicine is not persuasive.
So, Case Western Reserve Medical School failed to disclose concerns to residency programs.
This leads to two alternative explanations. If the earlier incidents were actually no big deal, then the
earlier incidents do not warrant expulsion even when followed by Al-Dabagh’s failure to report the
North Carolina arrest. Alternatively, if the earlier incidents were important, then Case cannot rely
on any lack of candor because Case demonstrated worse in giving glowing recommendations
without mention of Al-Dabagh’s supposed character flaws. That Case did not to explain any
concerns to potential residency programs shows these incidents were more innocuous than the
University now argues.
With respect to being late three times for the small group sessions and requesting not to be
marked as late for at least one of those sessions, Case appears never to have asked Al-Dabagh about
the incidents. Case does not show that Al-Dabagh lied when he explained that he needed to wait
for a person he was hosting on behalf of the University. The faculty member recalled that Al-19-
Case No. 1:14-CV-01046
Gwin, J.
Dabagh requested not to be marked late for more than one session, perhaps two additional sessions.
Even if the faculty member could accurately recall, it is difficult to see any such request as sufficient
to disqualify a bright, highly praised student from graduation.
Additionally, when Al-Dabagh was asked to leave a patient’s room, Case has no information
on whether the same family had earlier asked other physicians to leave, as Al-Dabagh says. And
Case gives no evidence whether the family so mistreated the earlier physician that the physician
came to tears.
And although Case says that Al-Dabagh suggested that he had examined patients before
presenting the patient’s case to other students and instructors, the only basis for that statement
appears to be an anonymous statement, and Case has no idea how many times this behavior
happened, if it did at all. Also, Case does not say that medical students could not present a patient’s
case after reviewing the patient’s file, lab work and test results. In addition, Case gives no evidence
that Al-Dabagh made mistakes in his presentations.
This leaves Al-Dabagh’s conduct at the Hippo Ball and Al-Dabagh’s subsequent taxi ride.
If the conduct occurred, the conduct was obviously improper. But the conduct implicates alcohol
abuse and harassment of peer women. Al-Dabagh completed counseling regarding his conduct.
Case apparently believed Al-Dabagh’s conduct on the night of the Hippo Ball was not important
enough to tell residency programs.
Accordingly, the only question remaining is whether Al-Dabagh’s conviction for driving
while impaired and decision not to tell Case about the arrest sufficiently support his expulsion and
sufficiently support denying him a diploma.
Before his conviction, the University Handbook did not require Al-Dabagh to inform the
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University of his arrest. The Handbook specifically tells students they do not need to report a crime
until they have been convicted.69/ And Case has presented no evidence that the Committee on
Students ever required Al-Dabagh to report arrests, not just convictions.
And the Court declines to find the minimal delay in reporting the conviction important. AlDabagh learned of the conviction by email on April 9, 2014. He immediately informed the
Riverside residency program. And nothing disproves his statement that he was going to tell Case
but Case had otherwise learned of the conviction after a call from the Riverside Dermatology
Program Director on April 9, 2012. Likely, that Director called Case immediately after learning of
the conviction on April 9, 2014.
Case learned of the conviction on April 9, 2014, the same day Al-Dabagh learned of the
conviction. The University then reached out to Al-Dabagh. Nothing shows Al-Dabagh would not
have later revealed the conviction to Case.
What remains, then, is to consider whether the University was entitled to believe that the
failure to report the February 2013 arrest combined with other so-called “professionalism”
incidents—that Case did not feel the need to note in its recommendations of AlDabagh—demonstrated that Al-Dabagh did not fulfill the core competency of “professionalism.”
If the Court were not giving Case great discretion, the decision would be easy. Given AlDabagh’s significant accomplishments, especially in dermatology research; given his grades; given
his especially positive review by the Dermatology Professor supervising his research, the Court
would quickly grant the requested relief.
But we give Case great discretion and this discretion makes this decision a closer question.
69/
Doc. 15-1 at 72.
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In his medical school years, Al-Dabagh twice had significant judgment issues with alcohol use, if
not an addiction or dependency. But Case does not say Al-Dabagh’s alcohol use disqualifies him.
Other students and staff physicians have had dependency issues and have worked through those
problems.
Regarding the other past incidents, the Court finds them insufficient to justify expelling a
student who has successfully completed five years of medical school, a student who has conducted
and published significant amounts of research; and a student who the Wake Forest supervising
dermatologist described as:
He is well read, punctual and prepared for his clinics. His caring demeanor is
apparent when he interacts with patients. He exhibited a can do, help others spirit
that has been a huge benefit to research projects, helping other students and faculty
on collaborative review articles and original research. Amir was a pleasure for me
to work with. He has a very bright, inquisitive personality, finding joy in life and
work. He has a broad view of the importance of medicine, both for the individual and
for society.70/
Given the way Case treated the previous incidents together with the nature of those incidents,
the University acted arbitrarily and capriciously in finding Al-Dabagh did not satisfy the core
competency of “professionalism.”
Because the “professionalism” issue is the only issue Case uses to justify its withholding the
degree, the Court finds that Al-Dabagh has satisfied all of the University requirements to graduate
and receive his diploma. Therefore, Al-Dabagh is likely to succeed on his breach of contract claim
for the University’s denial of a diploma.
B.
Irreparable Harm to Plaintiff
The Court previously discussed the irreparable harm that would come to Al-Dabagh if he
70/
Doc. 14-3.
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were not to receive a diploma: he would not be able to start his residency on June 17, 2014. More
than likely, Al-Dabagh’s whole career would be significantly damaged, if not lost.
Although in its opposition Case suggests that Al-Dabagh could seek admission to another
medical school university,71/ at the hearing, Case represented to the Court that Al-Dabagh would
likely need to repeat the last two years if he were to transfer.
Accordingly, the Court finds that Al-Dabagh will suffer irreparable harm if an injunction
does not issue.
C.
Substantial Harm to Defendant
Defendant gives only vague argument regarding how Defendant would be damaged if it were
required to issue a degree. Mostly, Defendant says it would suffer damage if persons (read judges)
who were not academic physicians could second guess Defendant’s decisions.
But that is nothing more than arguing that Case Western Medical School will suffer
irreparable injury if someone disagrees with it. Recall that just weeks before graduation, Defendant
told the world that
Al-Dabagh is a bright, hardworking, caring, senior medical student who has
demonstrated consistent growth in his approach to his medical education. His
performance in the core clinical clerkships has predominately fallen in the
commendable range. Mr. Al-Dabagh possesses a solid knowledge base and growing
clinical acumen including mature clinical judgment. His interpersonal skills are
strong and he works well with patients and members of the healthcare team. It is a
great pleasure to present Mr. Al-Dabagh to you as an excellent candidate for
residency training.
The Court sees no irreparable injury to the University if it must issue a diploma to a student the
71/
Doc. 15 at 23.
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University found had these qualities.72/ And, the Court has already determined that Case only
arbitrarily and capriciously believes he is not qualified under the University’s curricular standards.
The Court also finds that any reputational harms are minimal; Case has made a record of its
opposition to the granting of a diploma, and many levels exist between his diploma and Al-Dabagh’s
practice of dermatology, including his residency programs and the state licensing authority, which
will apparently conduct a criminal background check and see the driving while impaired conviction.
And, Riverside already has knowledge of the conviction.
Accordingly, the Court finds that Case will not be substantially harmed by the issuance of
an injunction.
D.
Public Interest
The Court finds that the public interest favors the issuance of an injunction. Al-Dabagh
shows ability, especially in the dermatology research he aims to pursue. He also shows failings,
especially alcohol abuse.
But on balance, the public will benefit if Al-Dabagh’s five years of medical education is not
thrown away. He may need supervision. Presumptively his residency program and state licensing
authorities will provide it. The public interest favors the issuance of an injunction.
IV. Conclusion
Because the Court finds that the University has arbitrarily and capriciously denied Plaintiff
Al-Dabagh a diploma and each factor of the Rule 65 test for a permanent injunction supports the
issuance of a permanent injunction, the Court ORDERS Case Western Reserve University to issue
72/
Id. at 23-24.
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a diploma to Amir Al-Dabagh as having satisfied the requirements to become a doctor of medicine
and to list Al-Dabagh as having graduated in whatever ways are customary for the school.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: June 2, 2014
s/
James S. Gwin
JAMES S. GWIN
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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