In a lawsuit filed on April 30, 2024, in the Court of Appeal of the State of California, Second Appellate District, Division One (case ID: B325545), plaintiffs Chad Ayach and Joseph Nofal are appealing against their expulsion from the University of California Riverside (UC Riverside). The defendants in this case are The Regents of the University of California and several individuals employed by the university.
The case revolves around allegations that Ayach and Nofal were denied due process during administrative hearings leading to their expulsions. Represented by David Romley, they contend that pseudonyms were used to identify witnesses who provided statements to university investigators, and they were denied the opportunity to confront or cross-examine these witnesses at the hearing. In early 2019, UC Riverside’s Student Conduct and Academic Integrity Programs office (SCAIP) initiated an investigation into the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity's pledge process following a report expressing concern for a member's health.
Ayach and Nofal are seeking reversal of their expulsion judgment arguing that due process was not followed in their case. However, considering the nature of charges and their response, the court affirmed that the challenged administrative proceedings afforded them due process.