Wrongful Termination of Employment – Sufficiency of Evidence

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WI Court of Appeals – District IV

Case Name: Sabina Leigh Burton v. The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System

Case No.: 2019AP2276

Officials: Blanchard, P.J., Kloppenburg, and Nashold, JJ.

Focus:  Wrongful Termination of Employment – Sufficiency of Evidence

Dr. Sabina Leigh Burton appeals a circuit court order affirming, on judicial review under WIS. STAT. ch. 227, the decision of the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System (the Board) terminating her employment as a tenured professor at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville (UWPL). See WIS. STAT. ch. 227 (2019-20). Burton argues that: (1) the Board’s findings underlying its determination of just cause for termination are not supported by substantial evidence; (2) the Board applied the wrong burden of proof; (3) the Board misconstrued the legal standard for dismissal; (4) the Board denied Burton her right to confront and cross-examine witnesses; and (5) the Board infringed on her academic freedom. We reject her arguments and therefore affirm.

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Derek A Hawkins is Corporate Counsel, at Salesforce.