U. of Mich. dropping appeal of $1.7M verdict for ex-dental student, says it will settle case

U. of Mich. to settle case with ex-dental student

DETROIT — The University of Michigan is dropping an appeal of a $1.7 million verdict awarded to a former dental student who said she was illegally kicked out of school.

In a court filing, lawyers for Alissa Zwick and four faculty members say they have agreed to settle the case. They asked a federal judge this week to vacate the jury verdict from last year’s trial.

Details of the settlement were not included in the court filing. Messages seeking comment left Friday with the university and Zwick’s lawyer were not immediately returned.

In December, a jury awarded $1.7 million to Zwick after finding her due-process rights were violated when she was removed from dental school in 2005.

The main defendant at trial was the dental school’s chief academic officer, Dr. Marilyn Lantz.