Filed Date: May 1, 2025
Case Ongoing
Clearinghouse coding complete
Eight former employees brought a civil rights lawsuit against the University of Michigan, alleging that they were fired in retaliation for their participation in pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
The complaint was filed on May 1, 2025 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, asserting violations of plaintiffs' First Amendment rights and Fourteenth Amendment due process rights. The plaintiffs–represented by the Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice, and the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee–included seven student employees and one full-time employee of the University who participated in a sit-in at the President's office building in November 2023, and a protest outside the University's art museum in May 2024. The University subsequently terminated their employment and permanently barred them from future employment, citing violations of the University's violence policy despite alleged video evidence showing no violent conduct by the plaintiffs. The complaint argued that this action against the plaintiffs departed significantly from the university's historical practice of declining to discipline students for similar protest activities on other issues.
The complaint named the Regents of the University of Michigan and four university officials as defendants. The University's President, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Associate Vice President for Human Resources, and an Associate Director of Human Resources were sued in both their individual and official capacities. The plaintiffs sought declaratory and injunctive relief, along with compensatory and punitive damages. Judge Stephen J. Murphy III was assigned to the case.
Three months after the original lawsuit, plaintiffs amended their complaint to add three defendants: the University's Vice President for Student Life, Director of the Office of Student Conflict Resolution, and a program manager in the Office of Student Conflict Resolution, all of whom were sued in both their individual and official capacities. The amended complaint alleged that these new defendants initiated retaliatory disciplinary proceedings and additional adverse employment actions after the original federal lawsuit was filed. This retaliation formed the basis for two entirely new causes of action under federal civil rights statutes 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and 42 U.S.C. § 1985, retaliation for filing the federal lawsuit and conspiracy to intimidate plaintiffs.
The amended complaint also sought additional injunctive relief to halt ongoing disciplinary proceedings and to restore plaintiffs' ability to engage in volunteer work with the University, while expanding damage claims to include the newly added defendants.
On August 29, 2025, defendants moved to dismiss the case. There was a hearing on the motion in December and, as of March 2026, the motion is pending before the court.
This case is ongoing.
Summary Authors
Josie Clerfond (2/20/2026)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70030105/parties/hakim-v-regents-of-the-university-of-michigan/
Murphy, Stephen J. (Michigan)
Godshall-Bennett, Christopher (Michigan)
Jacob, Liz (Michigan)
Bierlein, Kyle (Michigan)
Giroux, Erika L. (Michigan)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70030105/hakim-v-regents-of-the-university-of-michigan/
Last updated March 30, 2026, 4:36 a.m.
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Title VI Anti-Palestinian/Antisemitism cases
Key Dates
Filing Date: May 1, 2025
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Seven student employees and one full-time employee of the University of Michigan who were fired after participating in pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Private Entity/Person
Associate Director of Human Resources at the University of Michigan
Associate Vice President for Human Resources at the University of Michigan
Director of the Office of Student Conflict Resolution at the University of Michigan
Executive Vice President of the University of Michigan
President of the University of Michigan
Vice President for Student Life at the University of Michigan
State
The University of Michigan
Defendant Type(s):
Facility Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Ex parte Young (federal or state officials)
Constitutional Clause(s):
Due Process: Procedural Due Process
Other Dockets:
Eastern District of Michigan 2:25-cv-11265
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Relief Sought:
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Issues
General/Misc.:
Public benefits (includes, e.g., in-state tuition, govt. jobs)
Staff (number, training, qualifications, wages)
Discrimination Area:
Content/viewpoint discrimination
Discharge / Constructive Discharge / Layoff
Case Summary of Hakim v. Regents of the University of Michigan, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/46973/ (last updated 2/20/2026).