Columbia University Protestors Escape Discipline, But They're Being Sued

WASHINGTON - Aug. 20, 2024 - PRLog -- A House report reportedly (https://nypost.com/2024/08/19/us-news/not-one-columbia-student-nabbed-in-campus-occupation-has-been-expelled-house-report-says-disgraceful/) says that "Columbia University has not only caved and failed to expel any of the students busted in the occupation of a building during a pro-terror riot, most of them are still 'in good standing."

But many of those who participated in criminal activities on Columbia's campus have been hit with $30 million law suit for damages, says public interest law professor John Banzhaf, who both predicted and encouraged just such legal actions,

The litigants are seeking more than $30 million for damages, and the lawsuit could open the door and provide a blueprint for similar civil actions at other universities, says Banzhaf.

In addition to the serious financial and other burdens of having to hire lawyers to defend against such suits, and the impact on their future credit ratings, each protestor could be found legally liable for the entire amount of all the damages to all of the thousands of class action plaintiffs under the well-established legal doctrine of joint and several liability, says the law professor, who promoted such lawsuits against the January 6th rioters.
Class action lawsuits against Capitol rioters could deter future attacks *** A swaggering law professor offers a novel solution to punish the Capitol insurrectionists: hit them in the wallet (https://www.wusa9.com/article/features/producers-picks/la...)

Indeed, it's a legal tactic even the Wall Street Journal (as well as others) has recommended, even for far less serious crimes such as simply temporarily blocking traffic:
Tort Law vs. the Anti-Israel Protesters (https://www.wsj.com/articles/protesters-israel-hamas-tort...) * * *  If DAs won't prosecute, victims can sue for false imprisonment (https://www.wsj.com/articles/protesters-israel-hamas-tort-law-false-imprisonment-lawsuit-a03f2996?mod=hp_opin_pos_1)

Similarly, many universities are likely not to impose serious - if any - discipline on students who exceeded their rights of free speech and expressive activities by engaging in criminal tortious conduct such as:
■ Trespass to land (illegally occupying university property, especially with tents),
■ Civil assault and harassment (which need not involve any touching or actual harm),
■ Civil battery (even the slightest touching which proves to be harmful or even simply offensive)
■ False imprisonment (menacingly surrounding a student or professor, not permitting janitors to leave a building)
■ Tortious interference with existing contractual advantage (preventing students from going to classes and/or the library, from taking exams, experiencing graduation, etc.)

Banzhaf notes that his prior articles and other legal analysis inspired civil lawsuits against "cause" lawbreakers, and that similar suits have sometimes led to very large damage awards which shocked the criminal protestors.
Could Occupy Wall Street protesters be sued for Black Friday tactic? (https://www.csmonitor.com/layout/set/amphtml/USA/2011/1123/Could-Occupy-Wall-Street-protesters-be-sued-for-Black-Friday-tactic)
Leaders Of Illegal Demonstrations Can Now Be Sued For Damages (https://www.valuewalk.com/leaders-illegal-demonstrations-sued-damages/)
Portland Protest Leaders Face Massive Civil Lawsuits (https://www.valuewalk.com/portland-civil-lawsuits/)

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