Devoted to Corporate Attorneys, Corporate Lawyers, and Corporate Counsel

The following is not meant to be legal advice.

With people searches increasing these days, by universities, employers, and potential relationship builders, several legal issues are arising relating to online reputations.  Take the example of Stacy Snyder, a student at Millersville University.  Snyder, pursuing a degree in education, was about to receive a certificate in education.  She was a student teacher at a local high school.  However, after discovering a photo on Snyder’s MySpace page, the university denied her education certificate.   She had a MySpace page where she expressed herself.

The university claimed that a photo on MySpace exhibited errors in judgment.  The university claimed that the photo exhibited actions in conflict with the Pennsylvania Code of Professional Practice and Conduct for Educators.  Should the university be basing its claims on something that Snyder did away from her professional life?  Snyder has filed suit against the university.