FULLERTON : Student’s Suit Claims Bias by 3 at Cal State

A Cal State Fullerton student and her husband have sued the university, alleging discrimination by three faculty members.

The lawsuit alleges that Sharon Long, who it says has learning disabilities, was refused extra time that she requested to complete her final examinations.

It accuses Michael Davis, John Reinard and Beth Wilkes of intentionally and negligently inflicting emotional distress, illegally discriminating against a disabled student and violating public policies.

University officials would not comment Monday on the lawsuit, which was filed Friday in Orange County Superior Court.

Reinard said Monday that he had not seen the lawsuit but found the allegations “shocking.”

“I’m just stunned,” he said, adding that his custom is to help disabled students complete exams by contacting the university’s disabled student services department, which proctors tests for those who need extra time or special services.

Paul Miller, director of disabled student services, said any disabled student who needs to take extra time to complete a test is allowed to do so. He would not comment on Long’s situation specifically or on the lawsuit.

The three faculty members refused to make “reasonable accommodations” for Long to complete her exams at the end of the spring and fall semesters of 1994, according to the lawsuit.

It also alleges that the three humiliated Long, 47, in front of her classmates and caused her to suffer “severe emotional distress” by refusing to grant her request for extra time.

Long’s attorney, Elaine V. Norton, said Monday that her client was traumatized by the experience. Long’s husband, Melvin, is included as a plaintiff in the lawsuit because of the loss of consortium when his wife was hospitalized for six weeks as a result of her distress, Norton said.

The Longs are seeking unspecified damages.