# Hol-eeee Crap!! School Suspends Student...After Spying on Him **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 18, 2010, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hol-eeee-crap-school-suspends-student-after-spying-on-him/529510 "2010-02-18T19:42:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 21
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hol-eeee-crap-school-suspends-student-after-spying-on-him/529510/401 "2010-08-20T19:53:48Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > > [@palacheck](#): > > > > what about the countless high school and college girls that have webcams? > > [pet peeve] > High school and college girls _who_, not that, unless you think high school and college girls aren’t people. > [/pet peeve] [May](http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/who-versus-that.aspx)you [never](http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/that) be [annoyed](http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/that) again. > [@American Heritage Dictionary usage note](#): > > Usage note > 4. When that introduces a relative clause, the clause is usually restrictive; that is, essential to the complete meaning of the sentence because it restricts or specifies the noun or pronoun it modifies. In the sentence The keys that I lost last month have been found, it is clear that keys referred to are a particular set. Without the that clause, the sentence The keys have been found would be vague and probably puzzling. That is used to **refer to animate** and inanimate nouns and thus **can substitute in most uses for who ( m )** and which: Many of the workers that (or who ) built the pyramids died while working. The negotiator made an offer that (or which ) was very attractive to the union. Experienced writers choose among these forms not only on the basis of grammar and the kind of noun referred to but also on the basis of sound of the sentence and **their own personal preference**. > [@MWD](#): > > Main Entry: 2that > Pronunciation: hət, ˈthat > Function: conjunction > Date: before 12th century > 1 a (3) —used as a function word to introduce a subordinate clause that is joined as complement to a noun or adjective What do you call a person who defeats a grammar nazi? A grammar ally? ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2010, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hol-eeee-crap-school-suspends-student-after-spying-on-him/529510/402 "2010-08-20T20:02:50Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > > > They call that _negligence_, and it’s not (usually) criminal. > > They should still fire them for being so fucking stupid. Or would that be too simple and too obvious??? Don’t be silly. If people started getting fired for merely being dumber than their desks, the unemployment numbers would go through the roof, then start accelerating. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hol-eeee-crap-school-suspends-student-after-spying-on-him/529510/403 "2010-08-31T15:28:27Z")
At the risk of derailing this thread into commentary about the only people getting rich are the lawyers, the latest news is that the judge has [ordered the school district to pay plaintiff’s lawyer $260,000.](http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/pa/20100831_Lower_Merion_School_District_ordered_to_pay_plaintiff_s_lawyer__260_000.html) ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hol-eeee-crap-school-suspends-student-after-spying-on-him/529510/404 "2010-09-02T02:41:56Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > At the risk of derailing this thread into commentary about the only people getting rich are the lawyers, the latest news is that the judge has [ordered the school district to pay plaintiff’s lawyer $260,000.](http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/pa/20100831_Lower_Merion_School_District_ordered_to_pay_plaintiff_s_lawyer__260_000.html) At this point, if I were I taxpayer in that district, I’d be thinking about suing the school district’s attorneys for malpractice. This thing has had “SETTLE NOW” written on it in giant black letters since day 1. This fight is only increasing the legal bills on both sides. All of which will eventually be paid by the taxpayers. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hol-eeee-crap-school-suspends-student-after-spying-on-him/529510/405 "2010-09-02T04:00:45Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#): > > > [@palacheck](#): > > > > what about the countless high school and college girls that have webcams? > > [pet peeve] > High school and college girls _who_, not that, unless you think high school and college girls aren’t people. > [/pet peeve] “That” [can be used for animate objects](http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/that). It’s ultimately a style choice. Traditionally, “who/whom” is preferred for people. It’s not set in stone, though. Consult your style guide, etc. > [@](#): > > That is used to refer to animate and inanimate nouns and thus can substitute in most uses for who ( m ) and which: Many of the workers that (or who ) built the pyramids died while working. The negotiator made an offer that (or which ) was very attractive to the union. Experienced writers choose among these forms not only on the basis of grammar and the kind of noun referred to but also on the basis of sound of the sentence and their own personal preference. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hol-eeee-crap-school-suspends-student-after-spying-on-him/529510/406 "2010-09-02T04:18:30Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#): > > > [@Projammer](#): > > > > At the risk of derailing this thread into commentary about the only people getting rich are the lawyers, the latest news is that the judge has [ordered the school district to pay plaintiff’s lawyer $260,000.](http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/pa/20100831_Lower_Merion_School_District_ordered_to_pay_plaintiff_s_lawyer__260_000.html) > > At this point, if I were I taxpayer in that district, I’d be thinking about suing the school district’s attorneys for malpractice. This thing has had “SETTLE NOW” written on it in giant black letters since day 1. This fight is only increasing the legal bills on both sides. All of which will eventually be paid by the taxpayers. Interesting. I was just reading an article about public officials who don’t settle lawsuits in a reasonable manner, particularly suits with merit. In one case, instead of accepting a plaintiffs settlement offer of 40,000, they went to court, where they were fined 100,000 plus another 20k costs. The bottom line was that public officials don’t care. The money does not come from them, and often their overinflated egos are involved. So they don’t want to settle. They have no incentive to settle because they are not “playing” with their own money. Their lawyers have no incentive to settle because they are on retainer, and want to be seen as working hard for their clients. They are paid regardless. The taxpayer is the ultimate loser. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hol-eeee-crap-school-suspends-student-after-spying-on-him/529510/407 "2010-09-02T06:08:07Z")
:smack: Sorry, **Chessic Sense** , I didn’t realize there was another page where you had already made the exact same point I made. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hol-eeee-crap-school-suspends-student-after-spying-on-him/529510/408 "2010-10-12T16:22:44Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > . . . public officials don’t care. The money does not come from them, and often their overinflated egos are involved. So they don’t want to settle. They have no incentive to settle because they are not “playing” with their own money. Their lawyers have no incentive to settle because they are on retainer, and want to be seen as working hard for their clients. They are paid regardless. > > The taxpayer is the ultimate loser. [They settled!](http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/873839--610-000-deal-in-school-laptop-spying-lawsuit?bn=1) For $610,000 (of which the lawyer got $475,000!) ---
**Author:** ![Bloody\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bloody\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bloody_L)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hol-eeee-crap-school-suspends-student-after-spying-on-him/529510/409 "2010-10-12T16:52:02Z")
This is so revolting that it literally made me sick to my stomach. I can’t believe that this is true. It’s so wrong, so disturbing. How dare they? I feel as though even my own privacy was compromised even though I have nothing to do with it. The school is not the parent. There should be some seperation betwen school and home law in place…something that allows the student to sue the school to hell and back. I hope for the love of all things holy that the wrong-doers in this case get sued. They should be punished. This is just so wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hol-eeee-crap-school-suspends-student-after-spying-on-him/529510/410 "2010-10-12T17:34:29Z")
> [@](#): > > The settlement calls for $175,000 to be placed in a trust for Robbins and $10,000 for a second student who filed suit, Jalil Hassan. Their lawyer, Mark Haltzman, will get $425,000 for his work on the case. Way to go Mark! ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hol-eeee-crap-school-suspends-student-after-spying-on-him/529510/411 "2010-10-12T21:26:56Z")
> [@Darth\_Nader](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > The settlement calls for $175,000 to be placed in a trust for Robbins and $10,000 for a second student who filed suit, Jalil Hassan. Their lawyer, Mark Haltzman, will get $425,000 for his work on the case. > > Way to go Mark! Right, and if the school district had settled a lot earlier, Mark and his staff wouldn’t have had to put in so many hours of work, and would not have been paid as much. And if they had guessed wrong, and had pursued a suit that the courts ultimately judged as worthless, they would have received nothing for their work. That’s how the system works in the U.S. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hol-eeee-crap-school-suspends-student-after-spying-on-him/529510.md?page=20)