Thrun Law Firm provides advice and counsel to school districts on a regular basis on student issues such as student discipline, free speech rights, bullying/harassment, student records, religion in schools, Title IX, graduation, student records, searches, drug testing, athletic eligibility, child protection laws, and other related matters. In addition, our attorneys draft and review student handbooks, student codes of conduct, and district policies and procedures relative to these issues.

The firm has successfully represented Michigan school districts before state and federal courts in several high profile cases involving student discipline actions taken by the board of education, and other student related issues. Such cases include Paredes v Curtis, 864 F2d 426 (1988), in which a student challenged the school district’s refusal to disclose the names of witnesses who served against the student at the student’s expulsion hearing. The Sixth Circuit ruled that the school district need not disclose names of student witnesses. In Davis v Hillsdale Community Schools, 226 Mich App 375, (November 14, 1997), we defended the school district in an action in which a student challenged his expulsion based upon the possession of a B.B. gun.

Given our extensive experience in this area, Thrun Law Firm attorneys are also frequent presenters on student rights issues to local and intermediate school districts as well as educational organizations such as the Michigan Association of School Administrators and the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals.

In addition, we regularly advise school districts on virtually a daily basis on student due process, discipline and suspension matters. We have also provided extensive representation of school districts in circuit court actions challenging such expulsions. We routinely review or assist in creating student handbooks and board policies in this area.