The University of Northern Iowa is being sued by a Waterloo woman, who’s accusing the school of being negligent. The lawsuit stems from an overnight youth event that UNI sponsored in November of 2005. According to court documents, Ursula Holmes claims organizers of an "Up All Nighter" event sent her 11-year-old son home early because he was noisy.
Holmes alleges her son wasn’t allowed to phone for a ride and was forced to walk the eight blocks home alone in the dark. Holmes filed the suit in Black Hawk County District Court, claiming negligence, breach of duty, and infliction of emotional stress.
In her suit, Holmes claims her son now suffers from anxiety attacks, distrust, and mental anguish as a result of the early morning walk home. The state of Iowa is also named as a codefendant. State officials haven’t formally responded to the suit, but they are expected to challenge the claim.