Summary: A law professor at Charleston School of Law that was fired in May has been granted a temporary reinstatement.
A judge has temporarily reinstated one professor that was fired from Charleston School of Law until the case can be heard in court. Professor Nancy Zisk is one of two professors that filed a suit against the school, claiming that they were fired in retaliation of their opposition of InfiLaw buying the school. There were a total of seven professors fired in May.
The owners of the school, Robert Carr and George Kosko claim that the seven professors were fired because of their high salaries. Zisk’s annual salary as a tenured professor for 2014-2015 was $129,388.02. Zisk and Allyson Haynes Stuart, the other professor to sue the school, argue that they were targeted because they openly opposed an InfiLaw System deal.
The school has appealed this order by the judge, stating that they have financial markers that they have to meet in order to make certain requirements and that they are already at a net loss. Forcing the school to pay Zisk will only hurt them more.
The Department of Education can take away federal financial aid for students if the school does not maintain an acceptable financial reliability ratio. The American Bar Association could also put the school on probation or take away their accreditation. If the school does not experience a net income by the end of the next quarter, they may be forced to shut down.
The school is seeing a decline in students, meaning a decline in the number of tuitions paid. Payroll is the largest budget expense for the school. With the termination of the seven professors, the school was able to reduce their payroll expense by 9 percent.
The school is not committing any qualified professors to tenure positions at this time. There are three that have met the requirements but the school is not financially able to support the promotion until their finances improve
Photo: charlestonlaw.edu