Actually, I think it would be more helpful to know how EASY is it to bring a suit, how much it costs to defend one’s self from it (both in money and othr costs, like personal time), and how likely one is to prevail.

It’s not how often it’s actually used, it’s how easy it is to inflict pain if it IS used, and how easy it is to use.

I think we all know the answers to THOSE quenstions, though.

As a result, you get students who grow up thinking that being caught at cheating entitles them to re-do an assignment, rather than face suspension or expulsion. And let me tell you, the opportunity to “try again” has somewhere around zero deterrent effect.

Too many students today (as well as their parents) seem to be under the impression that if you pay your tuition, you’re somehow entitled to a degree.

Back to fear of litigation, though. I do think it would be helpful to know how often students actually bring litigation, but I also think that fear of litigation can result without any rational basis (e.g. a high or increasing number of suits). Like the threat of satanic cults that garnered such media attention when I was a child, I wonder how rational is the basis for professors fearing student litigation.

Even one such incident would be enough to make teachers very wary of taking action against cheaters, especially cheaters known to have violent tendencies.

I think that is the million doller question. But the phobia of being sued,is quite real and hinges on the fact that win or loose the defendent would foot the lawyers bill , just to save his/her ass. litigation is not a two way street , win or loose it will leave you demoralized and worse off , this is particularly true among people who are litigated most often .But I think we would need more examples like this to put a hard no. on such anecdotes.