Fedorov v. Board of Regents for University of Georgia

194 F. Supp. 2d 1378, 2002 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5423, 2002 WL 483551
CourtDistrict Court, S.D. Georgia
DecidedMarch 29, 2002
DocketNo. CV 101-011
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 194 F. Supp. 2d 1378 (Fedorov v. Board of Regents for University of Georgia) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, S.D. Georgia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Fedorov v. Board of Regents for University of Georgia, 194 F. Supp. 2d 1378, 2002 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5423, 2002 WL 483551 (S.D. Ga. 2002).

Opinion

ORDER

BOWEN, Chief Judge.

Defendants have moved for summary judgment. In response, Plaintiff requests a continuance to conduct further discovery. For' reasons stated below, Plaintiffs motion is DENIED, and Defendants’ motion is GRANTED.

I. Introduction

Beginning in 1995, Plaintiff Alexander Fedorov attended dental school at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. Defendant Board of Regents for the University System of Georgia oversees the Medical College of Georgia (MCG), and I will refer to these entities interchangeably. The individual defendants work in the dental school’s administration.

In 1999, Plaintiff was dismissed from the dental school for alleged violations of MCG’s student policies. Specifically, Defendants claimed Plaintiff falsified his insurance form, and used and possessed controlled narcotics. Plaintiff subsequently applied for readmission. His application was denied. Plaintiff then brought this lawsuit claiming his dismissal violated various federal and state laws. Defendants seek summary judgment on all of Plaintiffs claims.

[1382]*1382II. Factual Background

As a dental student, Plaintiff performed well. He achieved passing grades in his classes and clinics and made the Dean’s List. (PLAf03.) Plaintiff also passed the national dentistry boards in the fall of 1998. (/¿¶ 4.)

In September 1998, the University Police contacted Defendant Randy Butter-baugh about Plaintiff. Butterbaugh is the Director of Student Affairs for the Medical College of Georgia. (Butterbaugh Aff. ¶ 4.) The police allegedly received information from federal law enforcement regarding Plaintiffs purported involvement in trafficking narcotics. (Id.) According to Butterbaugh, he was advised that Plaintiffs brother was detained at the United States Mexican border attempting to smuggle illegal drugs into the United States. (Id. ¶ 5.) Butterbaugh claims he was informed that Plaintiff directed his brother to obtain the drugs. (Id.)

On October 5, 1998, the University Police went to Plaintiffs apartment and confronted him about the allegations. Plaintiff consented to a search of his apartment. (PLAffJ 6.) The police found controlled substances. (Butterbaugh Aff. ¶ 6.) With one exception, Plaintiff claims he had legally acquired the drugs. (PLATO 6.) The exception was a single hydrocone pill. (Id.) Plaintiff maintains that this item did not belong to him and that he was unaware of its presence in his apartment. (Id.) Plaintiff also contends that neither cocaine nor Xanex were found in his apartment. (Pl.Af« 7.)

Afterwards, Butterbaugh confronted Plaintiff about the allegations and the search. Plaintiff allegedly admitted that he was using the substances found in his apartment, minus the hydrocodone pill. (Butterbaugh Aff. ¶ 7; PL Aff. ¶ 7.) Apparently, Plaintiff also admitted to using other controlled substances. (See Butterbaugh Aff. ¶¶ 6-7; PL Aff. V 7.)

Plaintiff allegedly requested and received a medical leave of absence to enter a drug rehabilitation program. (Butter-baugh Aff. ¶ 8.) Plaintiffs treatment began on October 7, 1998. (PLAfO 9.) Dr. Scott Balogh provided the medical care. (Id. ¶ 9.) Butterbaugh claims he assisted Plaintiff in obtaining this treatment after their initial confrontation. (Pl. Aff. ¶ 9; Butter-baugh Aff. ¶ 7.) Nevertheless, Butterbaugh contends he expressly reserved the right to discipline Plaintiff. (Butterbaugh Aff. ¶ 8.)

Plaintiff, on the other hand, claims he voluntarily entered the treatment program. (PLAflN 9.) Dr. Jill Miller allegedly referred Plaintiff to Dr. Balogh. (Id.) Dr. Miller serves as MCG’s Director of Student Health. (Id.) Plaintiff further maintains that he entered into a written recovery contract with Dr. Balogh and Dr. Miller. (Id. ¶ 10.) Under this alleged contract, Plaintiff was supposed to receive “the necessary help and support for a complete recovery from [his] addictions.” (Id.) More importantly, the contract purportedly allowed Plaintiff to continue his studies until his scheduled graduation date in May 1999.

Shortly after Plaintiff was referred for rehabilitation, the parties discovered that Plaintiffs health insurance had lapsed. (Id. ¶ 11; Butterbaugh Aff. ¶9.) MCG’s policy requires students to maintain valid health insurance. (Butterbaugh ¶ 10.) Each year, a student must sign a written certification to verify current insurance. (Id. ¶ 11.) According to Butterbaugh, Plaintiff certified that he had valid insurance and subsequently allowed it to lapse. (Id. ¶ 11.)

Plaintiff claims the lapse was unintentional. (PLAfiN 11.) Plaintiff further contends that Defendant Butterbaugh assisted him in acquiring temporary coverage. (Id. ¶ 12.) At the time, Butterbaugh purport[1383]*1383edly failed to mention any violation of MCG’s policies. (Id.)

On November 24, 1998, Butterbaugh sent Plaintiff a letter charging him with student code violations. (Butterbaugh Aff. Ex. A.) When the letter was sent, Plaintiff was participating in a drug rehabilitation program. (Id. ¶ 13; PI. Aff. ¶ 13.) At the time, Plaintiff claims he had also stopped using drugs and had returned to class. (Id. ¶¶ 14-15.) According to Plaintiff, his return to class was conditioned upon negative drug screens and progress in his treatment. (Id. ¶ 14.)

The charges stemmed from Plaintiffs drug use and alleged falsification of official documents. (Butterbaugh Aff. Ex. A.) Among other substances, Defendants accused Plaintiff of using and possessing cocaine, hydrocodone, and Xanex. (Id.) The falsification charge was based on Plaintiffs insurance certification form for the 1998-99 school year. (Id.) Plaintiff faced expulsion, dismissal, or suspension if found guilty of any one of these charges. (Id.)

The November 24 letter also advised Plaintiff of his rights. (Id.) Plaintiff had the right to remain silent. (Id.) If he wished to defend himself, Plaintiff could choose a person from the “university” to aid his defense. (Id.) But the letter explicitly stated that this person could not be an attorney. (Id.) Plaintiff also had the right to a hearing. (Id.) The “Student Judicial Committee” would hear the matter, and Defendant Butterbaugh was designated to present the facts for the University. (Id.) According to Plaintiff, Butterbaugh told Dr. Miller before the hearing that the University planned to dismiss Plaintiff. (PLAff.f 19.)

The hearing occurred on January 26, 1999. Defendant Butterbaugh claims Plaintiff pled guilty to the charges of drug use and falsification. (Butterbaugh Aff. ¶ 15.) Plaintiff denies this allegation. (PI. Aff.f 20.)

Several witnesses appeared at the hearing. Both Plaintiff and Butterbaugh testified. (PLAff.f 21.) The parties brought additional witnesses to support their respective cases. (Id. ¶ 21; Butterbaugh Aff. ¶ 18.) Plaintiff had the opportunity to question the opposing witnesses. According to Butterbaugh, Plaintiff also had a person assisting him. (Butterbaugh Aff. ¶ 17.)

Plaintiff contends Defendants presented no evidence to support the charges. (Pl. Aff.f23.) While testifying, Plaintiff repeated his assertion that the hydrocodone pill did not belong to him and that he had prescriptions for the other substances found in the search. (Id.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Fedorov v. BOARD OF REGENTS FOR UNIVERSITY OF GA.
194 F. Supp. 2d 1378 (S.D. Georgia, 2002)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
194 F. Supp. 2d 1378, 2002 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 5423, 2002 WL 483551, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/fedorov-v-board-of-regents-for-university-of-georgia-gasd-2002.