Michigan dental school fights $1.7 million verdict

Michigan dental school fights $1.7 million verdict

By DrBicuspid Staff

December 24, 2008 -- Four faculty members of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry are demanding a new trial in the case of a student who was awarded more than $1 million for unfair dismissal from the school, according to an Associated Press (AP) story.

As previously reported by DrBicuspid.com, Alissa Zwick was awarded $1.7 million this month after a federal jury decided that her due process rights were violated and she was unfairly dismissed from the school in 2005.

She was the victim of infighting between faculty members and the school's associate dean, Marilyn Lantz, D.M.D., Zwick's attorney Deborah Gordon told DrBicuspid.com at the time.

Now the faculty members are asking for a new trial or a reduction in the jury's award, plus $500,000 for emotional distress, the AP reported.

"Lawyers for Lantz and three other defendants -- Drs. Bill Piskorowski, Mark Snyder, and Fred Burgett -- said key rulings on evidence and jury instructions swayed jurors in Zwick's favor," the AP reported.

U.S. District Judge Marianne Battani will hear arguments on February 11.