Conservative scholar denied new trial in lawsuit

DES MOINES, Iowa — A conservative scholar who sued a University of Iowa law school dean, saying she was denied promotions because of her political orientation, will not get a new trial.

Teresa Wagner, 48, had sought another trial after a federal jury found in October that the university did not discriminate against her. A mistrial was declared on a second count alleging the school had violated Wagner's equal protection rights. A third count charging that Wagner's due process rights had been violated was dismissed before the trial.

Wagner sought retrial on all counts.

Her lawyers asserted that the judge accepted the verdict without allowing attorneys to be present. That, they said, denied them the right to poll the jury, a process that helps determine if jurors were unduly pressured to render a verdict after lengthy deliberations.

On Friday, U.S. District Judge Robert Pratt issued a ruling rejecting Wagner's arguments and denying a new trial, The Des Moines Register reported ( http://dmreg.co/WTq5Nm). The judge also granted the law school defendants' motion to dismiss the count that the school had violated Wagner's equal protection rights.


Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2013/03/09/4110725/conservative-scholar-denied-new.html#storylink=cpy