Hello,I was in a confrontation with a professor. He asked for a paper and I told him to leave me alone. He then e-mailed me again and I told...

Question

Hello,

I was in a confrontation with a professor. He asked for a paper and I told him to leave me alone. He then e-mailed me again and I told him again to leave me alone. Then he told me to "get a lawyer". I felt that comment was to inflict fear in me so he could get his paper immediately. I then filed a complaint to the dean which is currently under investigation. He now claimed that I destroyed samples which occurred 2 months ago. I simply tossed the samples because I was leaving the lab. In addition, the samples (stored in plastic containers) were decomposing and leaking, posing a possible safety hazard. I left the samples in the glass containers.

Now I may face expulsion since he made allegations that I destroyed samples 2 months ago. I thought it was strange to make a claim on a serious matter that occurred 2 months ago.

I was considering filing a grievance lawsuit against the professor and university. Do you think I have a case?

Answer

No clue since this does not clearly identify what the paper was all about, what your obligations were to produce it or any analytical results obtained for it, or anything else. You will need to sit with an attorney who can clearly put together both a time line and points as to what happened here, who was involved, and what actions were taken, before concluding whether you have a "case".