16 February 2010 | Author: J. Cave SEO Consultant

Student suspended over Facebook page sues

Katherine Evans, a student and Facebook user who is attempting to sue her former principle after she was suspending for an offensive Facebook page concerning one of her teachers has been given permission to proceed with the lawsuit.

Evans was suspended for three days on the grounds that she as cyberbullying a teacher. While in her senior year, Evans had created the Facebook page "Ms. Sarah Phelps is the worst teacher I've ever met!" The page featured a photograph of the Ms Phelps and invited other students to join and "express your feelings of hatred".

Unwilling to back down, Evans decided to sue the school on the grounds that the suspension was a violation of her human rights. Evans is now seeking the suspension to be removed from her permanent record as well as a "nominal fee" to cover the violation of her First Amendment rights and payment of her legal fees.

One of Evan's Lawyers, Maria Kayanan said "This is an important victory both for Ms. Evans and Internet free speech... because it upholds the principle that the right to freedom of speech and expression in America does not depend on the technology used to convey opinions and ideas."

The case of Katherine Evans first came to light back in 2007. A high school senior and an honours student at Pembroke Pines Charter High School, Evans repeatedly clashed with her English Teacher, Ms Phelps over her assignments. However while the majority of students just grit their teeth and get on with it, Katherine Evans went to Facebook to express her rage. And when that failed, she looked to the first Amendment hoping that would stretch to disgruntled English students.

Evans, now 19 and a freshman at the University of Florida, hopes the trial will go forward this spring.

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