Suing the Universities, By James Reed
I see the universities as failed, corrupt institutions that have long ago abandoned their original goal of the pursuit of knowledge and truth, replaced by a corporate structure that manages a degree mill. Thus, as with any business the universities should be open to suing with no sentimentality. This is what is happening with Jacob Meaghe, a law PhD student who was failed by Cambridge University, and is now suing them, "alleging he was the subject of disability discrimination and victimisation following the failure of his law PhD."
He claimed that he was placed at a "substantial disadvantage" while writing his 100,000-word thesis, following a fallout with the university which saw him restart his PhD in 2019. Mr Meagher had asserted in court documents that he was "subjected to a number of detriments, such as the provision of a single supervisor who did not hold a position with the Faculty, and no advisor."
This meant he was "less able than other candidates of the same ability to produce a singular lengthy and multifaceted piece of work such as a PhD thesis," the High Court was told.
Mr Meagher also claimed that his oral "viva voce" interview, where he was questioned about his thesis by two examiners, caused "significant damage" to his health.
He ended up failing the examination, meaning he missed out on an opportunity to take up a tenancy at a "particular set of chambers" and therefore "suffered a substantial loss of anticipated earnings."
It will be interesting to see how this one goes, as in general cases against the universities fail. I suspect judges have a soft part in their dark hearts for these darker institutions, and out of public policy reasoning tend to believe in the myth of the university. But that is folly.
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