FEDERALCourt of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
2001

Wooden v. Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia

247 F.3d 1262Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit • Decided 2001Remanded
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HOLDING

This case involves university admissions discrimination claims brought by unsuccessful applicants and individuals affiliated with historically black institutions in Georgia's university system. The appeals court upheld dismissals for two plaintiffs (Tracy and Davis) who lacked legal standing to sue, but reversed the dismissal of a third plaintiff (Green) and sent his case back for further review. While this is an education case, it demonstrates how courts evaluate whether someone has the right to bring a lawsuit and what evidence is needed to prove standing—principles that apply to construction disputes over contract performance and damages.

KEY FINDINGS

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Standing requires showing you suffered a concrete injury that the defendant caused. Merely disagreeing with someone's policies isn't enough—you must prove direct harm to yourself.

FULL COURT OPINION