A pharmacy student named Kimberly Diei has recently settled a lawsuit and received $250,000 after facing nearly being expelled for sharing song lyrics from artists like Beyoncé and Cardi B on her personal social media accounts.
The court ruled in January 2025 that Diei’s social media posts were not linked to her school, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, and thus could not be used as grounds for discipline. This case began in 2019 when an anonymous complaint was made about her posts, which university officials labeled as “crude,” “vulgar,” or “sexual.” Despite the investigation, Diei was not expelled at that time.
In 2020, however, she faced another investigation, and the school’s professional conduct committee voted for her expulsion. Diei appealed this decision and subsequently filed a federal lawsuit, claiming her school was infringing on her rights by monitoring her off-campus expressions on social media.
Although the lawsuit was initially dismissed when Diei graduated, she continued to pursue the case, supported by attorney Greg Greubel from the Foundation for Individual Rights in Expression. In September 2024, they appealed the ruling, arguing that her speech did not identify her with the school and should be protected under the First Amendment.
The court agreed with her stance, recognizing a possible violation of free speech. Diei expressed her relief, stating that students should be able to express themselves outside of school without fear of repercussion. For her settlement, she received two checks: one for $180,000 directed to her and another for $70,000 payable to her supporting legal organization.
