Who would have thought?: Case Western Reserve University

Homework Could Fix a Home
Law students win landmark verdict in fraud case.

Homework Could Fix a Home

Falling victim to fraud can have dire consequences for a family and the surrounding community. But standing up against such a scheme can be an empowering and rewarding endeavor—not to mention a career-launching moment for future lawyers.

Such a case was taken on by the university’s Milton A. Kramer Law Clinic, and the outcome was better than anyone would have imagined.

A local family turned to students at the clinic and their faculty supervisor, Andrew Pollis, JD, to restore justice after they fell victim to a fraudulent home-repair and financing scheme. The students tried the case before a jury, making it one of the few civil cases the clinic has seen that went to a full-blown trial. The family won a $1.12 million verdict—$9,000 more than the legal team had even asked for. It was the largest award in the clinic’s history and included compensatory damages, treble damages under the Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act and punitive damages. In addition, the trial judge tacked on $50,000 in legal fees.

The case proceeded for three years, and several Case Western Reserve law students contributed throughout the process. Third-year students Brant DiChiera and Jennifer Hadley represented the clients during the trial.

Sun glasses

We’re Trendy

The Huffington Post counts Case Western Reserve among its trendiest schools of the year, citing a nearly 45 percent increase in undergraduate applications.

Spine

Breathing Easier

Researchers restored breathing in a model of upper spinal cord injury—a significant step toward independence for paralyzed individuals who require ventilators to breathe.

Water drop

Just Under the Surface

The moon’s interior contains as much water as the upper mantle of the Earth, findings show, strengthening theories about the moon’s relation to Earth, while raising questions about its origins.

Diamond

Diamond Electrodes Are Forever

Electrodes that use lab-grown diamond film won’t corrode in the body’s harsh environment, tests show.

Weights

Not so Heart-Healthy

More than one-third of patients who suffered a cardiac event and completed a 12-week rehabilitation course didn’t keep up with regular exercise one year later, researchers discovered.

Wifi

Wireless Networked

Case Western Reserve is one of 37 universities to join a national effort to bring high-speed wireless Internet services to universities and their surrounding communities—using a model based on our own Case Connection Zone.

Gavel

It’s Unanimous

A law school faculty member wins unanimously in his first case in front of the Supreme Court, restoring justice for an Ohio woman who sued the state prison system for failing to protect her from a guard’s abuse.

Heart

Getting Your Heart Rate Up

Researchers use an infrared laser to pace contractions in an avian embryonic heart, with no apparent damage to the tissue.

A Case of Valid Identity

Former prisoners trying to integrate back into society are systemically denied access to public assistance programs like food stamps and Medicaid for lack of valid ID, research shows.

Carrots

Farm Fresh

Produce from the university farm is sprouting up in campus dining halls and taking a bite out of Case Western Reserve’s carbon footprint.

Tree

Be Green to Make Green

Companies need to incorporate environmental health and social value into their core business to keep competitive in today’s economy, a new book argues.

Turnbine

Blowing in the Wind

A new wind turbine is one of the country’s first campus-based turbines for alternative energy research—and also provides a portion of the Veale center’s power.

Football

Athlete Gives Back

Quarterback Joey Baum makes academics, athletics and service active parts of his college experience.

Tooth

Say ‘Ah’ Even More

Postmenopausal women may need to see a dentist as many as four times a year because they develop more plaque and may require additional cleanings, a new study shows.

Brain

Relaxing Is Exhausting

Stopping a thought burns more energy than you may have thought—which could be why so many people struggle to unplug from work during vacation.

Gift

Remembering the Williamsons

The Williamson family’s $23.5 million in gifts supports student scholarships, professorships and programs around campus.

Read more about the verdict—and how the
experience can help these law students stand out
in the workforce. ›