LOS ANGELES — A longtime USC English professor — and former poet laureate of California — has dropped the second of two legal actions she brought against the university stemming from her suspension without pay for the fall 2020 semester for allegedly writing excessive emails to students and breaching a student’s privacy.
Attorneys for Carol Muske-Dukes filed court papers on Nov. 6 with Judge Mel Red Recana asking that her case be dismissed “with prejudice,” meaning it cannot be refiled. The court papers do not state why Muske-Dukes is dropping the case, but in November 2021 Recana granted USC’s motion to compel arbitration of the plaintiff’s claims.
Muske-Dukes’ lawsuit was filed in July 2021 and alleged discrimination, retaliation, fraud and negligent misrepresentation. In a separate legal action, Muske-Dukes filed a petition in February 2021 asking a judge to order the university to set aside its findings and sanctions against the now 77-year-old professor that resulted from an Office of Professionalism and Ethics investigation conducted from November 2018 through October 2019. Judge Mitchell L. Beckloff denied the petition in November 2022.
USC previously issued a statement regarding the recently dropped case.
“The university stands by its investigation and sanctioning process and plans to vigorously defend itself against this lawsuit,” the statement read.
According to the dropped suit, Muske-Dukes is an “award-winning teacher and nationally known author having published 16 internationally reviewed books, including novels, poetry, essays and co-edited anthologies. These works have generated awards and acclaim.”
Muske-Dukes received a gubernatorial appointment as poet laureate of California from 2008-2011, a position held by only nine poets since 1915, according to her dropped suit.
“Plaintiff’s professional accomplishments have brought nothing but acclaim and prestige to USC,” the dropped suit stated.
Citing several…
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