Case Explained: SHANNON WALLER, JR v. BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF GEORGIA TERRI MILLER JASMINE BROWN SHANOYA CORDEW MARINA SPEARS, et al

Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit Filed: 2026-08-10 Docket: 5:23-cv-00232-MTT The eleventh-circuit affirmed the district court’s dismissal of Shannon Waller, Jr.’s breach of contract, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. § 12131 et seq.), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. § 794) claims against the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. Regarding the contract claim, the court applied Georgia sovereign immunity law under Ga. Const. Art. 1, § 2, ¶ IX(c) and O.C.G.A. § 50-21-1(a), holding that a valid written contract waiving immunity must contain all essential terms in writing; the plaintiff’s admission letter and Student Handbook failed to meet this standard because they lacked express consideration or obligations moving to the contract. For the discrimination claims, the court applied the Rule 12(b)(6) plausibility standard, ruling that the complaint failed to allege sufficient factual content to support an inference that adverse actions were taken by reason of the plaintiff’s disabilities rather than patient safety concerns, constituting merely threadbare recitals of legal elements. The district court’s dismissal orders remain in effect, terminating the federal litigation against the university system and its employees. Do It For The Case Law is a news reporting service. Nothing in this episode constitutes legal advice.