Video Frequently Asked Questions

What is unauthorized collaboration? This is when a student works with another person or group without permission from the professor. What should a student do if accused of collaboration? Read your syllabus and think about what the professor told you or did not tell you about working with other students. Read your handbook. This is where you will find the answer to what will happen if the professor refers the matter to the academic integrity office. Are you facing an academic integrity committee hearing? Hire us to help you prepare. The better prepared you are for the hearing the better chance for success. Need to appeal a sanction? Call us. We write student appeals.  Richard Asselta is a defense attorney for university students who offers advisement services throughout the United States. Call today for a free consultation. (855) 338-5299 Read More

What is self-plagiarism? This is taking work that you have previously completed and turning it in to another class.  Do I need to cite myself? Yes. If you use a portion of your previous work, you must cite yourself. Can I submit my old paper for a new assignment, it is my original work? Not without the professors permission. I have worked with students from undergraduate programs to doctoral students who have reused their old work and ended up in trouble. Even if you think it is acceptable, I always recommend you ask the professor to be sure. What should I do if a professor accuses me of self-plagiarism? Read your student handbook – find out what the policy on submitting work twice is.  Check your handbook for the honor code or academic integrity policy. This will tell you what you may face in terms of sanctions. Call Asselta Law. We offer student defense adviser services throughout the United States. (855) 338-5299 Click here for the full blog post on self-plagiarism.    Read More

What is a student appeal? A student appeal is the last chance a student has at avoid sanctions from their college. An appeal asks university staff, usually a dean or provost to look at the situation one last time. How fast do I have to write and submit my student appeal? Usually very quick. Every university is different so make sure you check your handbook for the timelines.  What should I write about in my student disciplinary appeal? That depends on your situation and what categories your university allows you to argue. The categories are typically: new information, policy or procedural violations, and harshness of sanction. These limited categories can make appeal writing a challenge. I write student appeals using my nearly twenty years as a lawyer combined with a specialized knowledge of the student disciplinary process. This gives students a edge. Call today for a free consultation. (855) 338-5299 Click here to read the full blog post on student disciplinary appeals.  Read More

What is a grade appeal? When a student believes that they were not evaluated fairly by a professor, they can file a grade appeal or grade grievance.  How long do I have to appeal the grade? Check your student handbook and search for the grade appeal section. Most universities have time frames that student must meet. This means that you can’t wait until you get ready to graduate to dispute a grade.  What should I write about in a grade appeal? I recommend focusing on facts that support your appeal. Do not argue that you didn’t feel well or felt the professor didn’t teach you. You need to discuss issues surrounding rubrics, confusing or incorrect test questions, or syllabus errors. Can you help me write my grade grievance? Yes. I write student appeals, including grade disputes. Using my nearly 20 years of experience as an attorney combined with a unique knowledge of the student disciplinary process, I give students a successful edge.  Want to read more about grade appeals? Click here for a full blog post about the topic. Richard Asselta assists students in writing appeals in college. Call today for a free consultation. (855) 338-5299 Read More

Accused of an academic honor code violation and have to face a committee hearing? What should a student expect? A honor code committee hearing can be intimidating. The student will face a panel of students and professors who will decide if they are guilty of committing a violation of the honor code.  What should a student expect to happen at an academic hearing? A university student should be prepared to present their case against the charges. This involves asking and answering questions, presenting evidence, providing witnesses, and more. Can you help me prepare for my academic integrity hearing? Yes. I help students all over the US prepare their honor code violation defense. Call today for a free consultation. (855) 338-5299 Click here to read what clients are saying about Richard on AVVO, a lawyer review website.  Read More

In a previous video I discussed what an academic integrity or honor code hearing is. In this video I am going to discuss the importance of bringing an adviser to the hearing. What is an adviser for academic integrity and honor code hearings? An adviser sits in with the student during the hearing and assists them in presenting their defense. Can I bring an adviser to my university honor code hearing? Maybe. That depends on your university. Check your student handbook for the rules regarding advisers. Most public schools allow advisers but private schools can restrict the attendance of an adviser.  How can an honor code hearing adviser help me? I see several benefits to the participation of an adviser in an academic integrity hearing. I help students prepare for the hearing, present their case, and support them during the hearing.  Richard Asselta, defense attorney for students, acts as an adviser for students who must face an academic integrity committee hearing. Do you need an adviser for an honor code hearing? Call Asselta Law today for help. We offer free consultations. (855) 338-5299   Read More

You are in college there are pressures and you want to do the best you can. You are taking a course and talk to friends, maybe they had the professor last semester or you do online searches and find the professors old course materials. You then use these materials to study. Then test day comes and you notice the test is identical or almost exactly the same as what you studied from. You end up getting a very high score, much higher than the class average. The professor then calls you in for a meeting and accuses you of cheating. Is using a professors past course materials to study considered cheating? Maybe. It depends on your university. Does the university have a policy that using past materials against the rules, did the professor say anything in class or put anything in their syllabus that says this is not appropriate? There are many defenses to a cheating accusation and they depend on the facts of your case.  Are you accused of cheating in school? Contact Asselta Law today. We offer free consultations and defend students throughout the United States.  Richard Asselta is an award-winning defense attorney for students. He is experienced in helping students who are facing accusations of cheating in college.  Click here to read what clients are saying on AVVO, a lawyer review website. Read More

What happens if a Florida teacher receives a letter from the Department of Education? If you received a letter from the DOE, chances are you have some idea what it is about. Most of the incidents originate at your district level. You may have been investigated by your school district and even faced disciplinary action. However, districts are required to report certain infractions to the state. Even though you may have settled the incident with your district, you may still face additional discipline from the state. What should a teacher do if the receive the DOE investigation letter? Call an defense attorney for teachers immediately. The DOE letter will request documents, statements, and more and want it all in a very short time frame. What the DOE does not tell you is that you can hire a lawyer to defend you.  This is your livelihood and your profession. Do not take a letter of investigation lightly. The sooner you get an attorney who defends teachers involved, the better your chance at a successful outcome.  Richard Asselta, award-winning attorney, defends Florida teachers at district, state, and administrative hearings. Call today for a free consultation and protect your career. (855) 338-5299   Read More

Florida teachers are often required to help administer FSA or EOC tests. Administering these tests can put a teacher at risk if they aren’t careful.  What types of issues could cause a teacher to face accusations of test misconduct? Giving too much or too little time Helping students outside of what the test administration manual allows Pointing to answers Telling a student to check their answers What can happen to a teacher if accused of helping students on an FSA or EOC test? The Florida Department of Education takes these accusations seriously. Many teachers have been told they will face at a minimum a suspension. If you face an accusation of helping students on a standardized test, contact Asselta Law immediately. We are experienced in defending teachers at the district, state, and in administrative hearings. (855) 338-5299 Read More

In a criminal matter, you can raise ineffective assistance of counsel on an appeal. However, there are specific procedures that come into place before you can do that. In a civil matter, you cannot raise ineffective assistance of counsel as a ground for your appeal. In a civil context, there are other ways that you’ll have to deal with that. You should consult with an appellate attorney if you have more questions about the appeal process. Read More

You are not required to testify as part of any appellate proceedings, and in fact, testimony is normally not taken. Likewise, you do not have to attend any appellate procedures as well. Your appellate attorney can handle everything. Read More

Generally, oral arguments are open to the public. Some clients want to attend the oral argument to get a better understanding of the process. Other times, they’re happy to let their appellate attorney handle the matter and have the attorney report back to them what happened. You’re not required to attend an oral argument. Read More

Every court system has their own rules that govern appeals. For example, in Florida State Courts, those rules are found in the Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure. In the federal system, they’re found in the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure. These rules can be found in book form but now many times they can be found online. An experienced Appellate Attorney would be able to explain the rules in your court system. Read More

Possible outcomes in a civil matter really depends on what you are appealing or what side you are on. For example, if you were the winner of a money judgment in the lower court and your adversary appealed that decision, if the appellate court affirmed, your judgment would be affirmed. Read More

A strong appellate attorney is an attorney who possesses excellent writing skills, researching skills, and analytical skills. In addition, a strong appellate attorney should be able to call through a tremendous amount of information and be able to distill that information down to arguments that are succinct and make sense. Read More

The purpose of a special education due process hearing is to get a resolution of whatever issue exists. For example, the issue could be the school is not following your child’s IEP, or they haven’t evaluated your child properly, or some other issue surrounding the special education process. You should consult with an Education and School Law Attorney if you think your child was not properly evaluated. Read More

If the U.S. Supreme Court denies certiorari, that means that the decision of the Court of Appeals is final. It doesn’t necessarily mean that the U.S. Supreme Court agree or disagreed with the Court of Appeals, but it does mean that the Court will not hear your case. Read More

The job of a trial attorney and an appellate attorney are two different things, and both require two different skill sets. For an example, a trial attorney needs to be able to think on their feet, needs to be able to cross-examine witnesses very effectively. An appellate lawyer needs to be an excellent writer and needs to possess analytical skills. So the skill sets involved to conduct a trial and to conduct an appeal are very different. Read More

Generally, a writ of habeas corpus is a judicial mandate questioning whether or not somebody has been lawfully detained or improperly imprisoned. An appeal, on the other hand, is normally a petition to an appellate court seeking to overturn either a lawsuit judgment or a criminal conviction. Read More

The deadline for filing a 3.850 motion in Florida is two years from the date the conviction became final. That date is usually either the day that the Appellate Division affirmed the lower court’s mandate, or if no appeal was taken, the last date in which the appeal could have been filed. You should consult with an Appellate Attorney as soon as possible if you are nearing your deadline. Read More

FERPA stands for the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. It’s a federal law designed to do two things. Number one, it protects student’s education records. Number two, it gives students access to their education records. Read More

Due process in a school setting means a few different things. It means you’re innocent until proven guilty, you have to have notice of what you did wrong, and an opportunity to be heard. The United States Supreme Court has said that due process does extend to students in public schools. For suspensions less than ten days, you have an opportunity to an informal hearing. For suspensions ten days or greater, you do get a formal hearing, normally before the local school board. You should consult with an Education and School Law attorney if you have more questions about due process. Read More

An emotional support animal is a companion animal that provides emotional support for somebody that has either a mental or psychiatric disability. An emotional support animal is a companion animal, it’s not a pet. Read More

A 3.850 motion in Florida refers to the Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.850. There are several grounds that can be asserted, however, the most typical one is ineffective assistance of council. If you have this issue, it’s very important to consult with an appellate attorney who has experience dealing with these motions as sometimes they can be a little tricky and difficult to understand. Read More

If your child does not qualify for an IEP plan, he or she may qualify for a 504 Plan. 504 refers to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. It’s a federal law that prohibits discrimination based on a disability. Your child has to be treated just like every other child. There are some major differences between an IEP Plan and a 504 Plan. So you should consult an education attorney who can better explain those differences. Read More

While the opinion of your trial attorney is certainly important, you should consult with an appellate lawyer. Appellate lawyers are trained and are used to going through the record and spotting issues. They can give you a better understanding  of what issues you may have for an appeal and what your chances of success might be. Read More

Even if you don’t have any objection to the facts, that doesn’t mean you still can’t appeal. It’s important to understand that, in most cases, an appellate court is not scrutinizing or weighing facts. They’re looking at whether or not the law was correctly applied to those facts. So, if you believe that the judge misinterpreted the law or misapplied it, you have grounds for an appeal and should contact an Appellate Attorney. Read More

Filing an appeal means two different things. The first step in the appellate process is filing what’s called a notice of appeal. This is a document that’s filed in the lower court. After that, you then file your initial brief. That’s filed in the actual appellate division. Read More

To have an emotional support animal, the first thing you should do is make a request to your landlord or housing provider. The request should be in writing, and you should explain why the animal will mitigate or help reduce the symptoms of your disability. You’ll also need to provide a doctor’s note. Read More

Florida has what’s called a “Pet Lemon Law.” So, for an example, if you have a sick puppy, you would have 14 days from the date of purchase to return the dog for either illness, infectious or contagious disease. If you have been sold an unhealthy animal you should consult with an experienced Animal and Pet law attorney before 14 days have passed. Read More

Your chances for a success on an appeal depends on many different things. It depends on which side were you on, were you the winner or the loser in the lower court? It depends on the issue that you’re appealing, the specific facts of your case, and what the law says regarding the issue that you’re appealing from. You should consult with an experienced appellate lawyer who can go through the information and give you a good assessment of what your chances are for an appeal. Read More

If a school district is not following your child’s IEP or it’s not working, the first thing you should do is request an IEP meeting. This can be done through either the district’s special education coordinator or the school’s principal. If that doesn’t work, a more serious option to consider is what’s called a “due process hearing.” You should consult with an education law attorney who can explain to you the benefits of each procedure. Read More

Your child has a right to a free and appropriate public education. They also have the right to be educated in the least restrictive environment. That means if your child has special needs, he or she has the right to be educated with students who do not have a disability. Read More

In 1985, the United States Supreme Court ruled that schools can conduct searches so long as there is a reasonable suspicion that a crime either has been committed, is in the process of being committed, or some school rule has been violated. That search would extend to your person, your desk, your car, and yes, your backpack. Read More

If you win on appeal, you will not necessarily be freed from prison. The more likely scenario is if you win on appeal, your case will go back to the lower court to be retried, or sometimes that the issue is whether or not your sentence was proper. So you may be remanded back to the lower court for a new sentencing. Read More

If you think your child has special needs, the first thing you should do is contact the district’s special ed coordinator or the school’s principal, and request that your child be evaluated under the IDEA. Read More

A student is not required to have an attorney if academic or disciplinary charges have been filed against them. However, having an experienced Education and School Law Attorney is recommended. The reason being is that because many times these policies are not clearly written, and the administrators themselves don’t understand the policy. Having an attorney can help guide you through the process, protect your rights, and make sure that the procedures are followed correctly. Read More

There may be several legal options available depending upon whether or not the school is a public school or a private school. Most schools have some sort of internal appeal process. That process should be exhausted. If it is a public school, you also then have a right to file what’s called a writ of certiorari to a circuit court. If it is a private school, one option that you have is always to sue the school if you believe that the school failed to do something or did something improper.  Read More

Not every case can be appealed to the United States Supreme Court. Generally, cases have to deal with either a Federal issue or involve some sort of Federal law. The Supreme Court will then read the petitions, if you meet certain requirements, and decide whether or not to take your case. There’s no guarantee or absolute right to appeal to the United States Supreme Court. You should consult with an appellate attorney if you think your case can be appealed. Read More

Yes, you do and the reason is because a service animal is not a pet. So while you don’t have to completely abandon your no pets policy, you do have to make exceptions for service animals. Read More

In Florida, you have 30 days from the date that the lower court issues the order which you’re appealing from to file what’s called a Notice of Appeal in a lower tribunal. Read More

Whether or not you have a good appeal or a good chance on appeal really depends on several things. It depends on the issue in which you’re appealing from. It depends on whether or not you were the winner or loser in the lower court. It depends on your facts and it depends on what the law says. You should consult with an experienced appellate attorney, he or she can be able to go through your record and give you a better understanding of what chances you have on success for your appeal. Read More

The Fair Housing Act does apply to most housing including condominiums, apartments, and homes for rent. There are some major exceptions, so you should consult with an attorney who can advise you specifically of what those exceptions are. Read More

Yes, it does matter for appellate purposes whether or not your case was tried in state or federal court. The reason is because each of those two court systems have different rules. While the rules may be similar, there are major differences. So you should consult with an experienced appellate lawyer to understand what those differences are to safeguard your appellate rights. Read More

Emotional support animals do not need specialized training. Neither the Fair Housing Act, nor Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act requires any specialized training for an emotional support animal. Read More

An appellate court does not hear witnesses testifying. All witness testimony comes from the record. In the case of testimony, that’s usually in the form of transcripts. Read More

If it’s the policy of the landlord or housing provider to charge the tenants for more than reasonable wear and tear, then, yes. The person would be responsible to pay for damages for the emotional support animal. The key is that that individual is treated just as every other tenant. Read More

You do not have to retain your trial attorney’s part of the appellate team in Florida. The reason is is because in the appeal, we have a full record of what happened in the lower court, including a transcript which includes everything that your trial attorney said. Read More

While all attorneys have the ability to handle appeals, not all lawyers do that. A Florida Appeals Attorney really is a specialized area of the law and many times requires a specialized set of skills that are different from, let’s say, a trial attorney. Read More

Based on statements from HUD, it appears that a Florida landlord cannot charge a pet fee or a pet deposit for an emotional support animal, the reason being is because an emotional support animal is not considered a pet. Read More

Generally, new evidence will not be heard or considered as part of your appellate process. The appellate court in Florida is bound by something called “the record.” The record is exactly that, a record of everything that occurred at the lower court level. That is what they’ll be reading from. That’s what they’ll consider in determining your appeal. Read More

Whether or not your child’s conversations at home, whether on a telephone or a computer, can lead to disciplinary action at school, really depends on the facts. For example, if a child is having a conversation about bullying or harming another student, or creating some sort of disruption in the school, the school has a good argument for the discipline. If something like that occurs, you should consult with an education attorney, tell him or her the facts, and let them advise you as to how to proceed.  Read More

Your child can individually pray at a Florida public school so long as the prayer is not coercive or doesn’t disrupt the school. For example, your child can say a blessing before his or her meal at lunch, however, the school cannot sponsor or be seen to sponsor the prayer. Read More

Whether or not your child could be suspended from a public school in the State of Florida without a hearing depends on the nature of the suspension. If the suspension is for less than 10 days then the child has a right to be heard, but not necessarily has a right to a formal hearing. If the suspension is more than 10 days then the law requires that a formal hearing be held, normally before the local school board. Read More

Unfortunately, the United States Supreme Court has ruled that students do not have a private action under FERPA. However, you may have an action under Florida state law. For instance, there could be privacy violations or perhaps a negligence claim that can be asserted. You should consult with an education attorney, tell him or her the circumstances of your case, and have them advise you. Read More

Generally, yes, you can speak at school board meetings in the State of Florida. In accordance with Florida’s Sunshine Law, school board meetings are open to the public except for some contract negotiations. You should consult with your local school board to make sure you understand the policies and procedures and what you have to do to get on the agenda to speak. Read More

Yes, civil cases, just like criminal cases, can be appealed in Florida. Read More

Not every attorney can argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court. You have to be a member of the Supreme Court Bar Association, and there are specific requirements to be admitted as a member of the U.S. Supreme Court Bar. Read More

Yes, animals, besides cats and dogs, can act as emotional support animals in the State of Florida. There actually have been cases that have dealt with the question of whether an miniature horse can be an emotional support animal, and even a guinea pig. Learn more about Animal and Pet Law in our practice areas. Read More

It is unconstitutional for a teacher to pray with or pray in the presence of students at a public school in Florida. Due to the unique nature of a public school teacher, they’re considered government employees and any prayer by such an employee would be considered an endorsement of religion by the school which violates the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Read More

There’s no rule or case law that says a person cannot have more than one emotional support animal in Florida. The criteria would be the same. You would have to show that you have a disability in which the emotional support animal mitigates or helps you deal with that disability. Read More

HUD says that a Florida landlord or a housing provider cannot unreasonably delay your request for an emotional support animal. Unfortunately, reasonable delay has not been defined. But the answer is no, that they cannot delay it. You can learn more in our Animal and Pet Law practice area. Read More

According to the Office of Housing and Urban Development, a Florida landlord cannot ban your specific animal based on breed, size, weight, or other factors. The only thing they can do is limit your specific animal if your animal has specific tendencies to be dangerous or has been dangerous in the past. Read More

A Florida landlord or a housing provider cannot ask you details about your disability. They may, however, ask you questions about the nature of your disability and why you need the animal. But they cannot ask you specific questions related to the disability. Read More

In Florida, teacher evaluations are based on a specific rubric. Therefore, your principal’s personal opinion of you should have nothing to do with your evaluation. If you receive a bad evaluation, and if you believe it’s due to your principal’s personal opinion, you should consult an education law attorney. Read More

As a Florida school district employee, if you receive a negative evaluation, you should respond in writing as it will become part of your personnel file. You also have the right to request a certain amount of designated reviews. You should consult your specific school district’s handbook to understand what that process is. Read More

There are appeals in Florida arbitration. The first step in the process is you would file an action in the Circuit Court. If you’re not happy with that decision, you then can take an appeal to the appellate division. However, the circumstances of appealing and arbitration are very limited, so you should consult with an experienced appellate attorney who can better explain these circumstances and limitations to you. Read More

Florida animal law cases are normally not handled on contingency. The reason being is because damages in these cases are usually limited. They’re limited to things like veterinary care, possibly ongoing care of the animal. So because your damages are rather finite and limited, normally these cases are handled on either a flat fee basis or hourly. Read More

You’re not required to have a lawyer to file your appeal in Florida. However, you should understand that if you do represent yourself, the court is going to hold you to the same standards and professionalism as an attorney would be held. Read More