Anita B. Brown v. Hampton University

Psychology Professor Anita B. Brown sued
Hampton University, its board of trustees, president William R. Harvey, and then-provost and acting university president
JoAnn W. Haysbert on defamation and breach of contract
theories. Brown claimed that she was denigrated at the
May 2003 commencement ceremony at the University by
Professor
Erenestine Harrison who distributed fliers at the event
that declared that Brown demonstrated "moral defectiveness" and could
not "paraded around in front of everyone and denigrated Brown."

Defendants denied that they authorized or had any
knowledge of the actions of Harrison and were not, therefore,
liable for any defamatory statements that she made about
Brown. Brown's contract with Hampton University was
terminated by the University shortly after the end of the
school year based on a finding that Brown authorized
two summer courses' worth of pay for Harrison and another
professor knowing each only taught one course.
Brown denied that she knew that Harrison and Trotter
had not taught the classes in 2001 for which she authorized
payment.