From Reich v. Fairleigh Dickinson Univ., decided Friday by Magistrate Judge Jessica S. Allen (D.N.J.):
This lawsuit arises from Plaintiff's enrollment in the Yeshiva Program at the Petrocelli College of Continuing Studies at FDU and a dispute over FDU's tuition charge for a class and Plaintiff's failing grade from a professor's alleged false accusations of plagiarism…. [O]n December 15, 2021, FDU sought leave to file the instant motion to assert counterclaims, stating that it had recently learned of Plaintiff's allegedly defamatory online communications and postings about FDU and some of its employees.
The court (among other things) allows FDU to assert its defamation counterclaims, because "Plaintiff's online statements amount to defamatory communications beyond mere statements of opinion given the context of these statements"; the statements are:
[a.] 'Leon Kurland is a liar and collects money for classes but fails to show up. Kurland also is involved in discrimination and retaliation against students who do not follow and support all of his ideas.'
[b.] FDU takes 'part in discrimination based on age, color, and religion.'
[c.] FDU is a '[h]orrible college with corrupt administrators and hateful educators.'
[d.] FDU has 'corrupt university administrators' who engage in 'fraud and deception.'
[e.] FDU is a 'scam university with a history of defrauding students and lasting corruption.' …
[g.] FDU's former General Counsel, John Codd 'defrauded' 'Vip Level's' (aka Reich's)...
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