What Happened: Post-trial motions have been submitted by Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry in the civil suit that in August found President Bashar Hanna, former Provost James Krause, Bloomsburg University, and the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education liable for wrongful termination. 

Why it Matters: This is the first step for a party in Pennsylvania to seek an appeal. In the post-trail motions, defendants raise alleged errors, which are then submitted to the trial court. 

Some of the errors alleged in the brief include claims that “no actual evidence beyond conjecture was introduced at the trial,” establishing any actions President Hanna took relating to the termination of former Dean of Business Jeffrey Krug.

Patrick O’Connell, who represented Jeffrey Krug during the trial, described the court process. After the verdict is given, post-trial motions can be filed. This takes the decision to the trial court, where the trial judge will rule, and if denied, it can then be appealed to the Circuit Court of Appeals.

If the verdict is successfully appealed, the plaintiff can argue whether or not the judge erred. The Third Circuit Court will then decide if the defense appeal has merit. It is during this decision whether a new trial can be remanded if the appeal is granted. 

No time frame could be given, but O’Connell said the process could “take a significant amount of time.”

Update: Response from the University

Following an inquiry from The Voice to Dr. Bashar Hanna, Dan Knorr, the Executive Director of Economic Development & External Affairs, responded, stating over email, “The university has no response as this represents ongoing litigation.”

This is an ongoing story