Denied a diploma because she flunked a course in clinical nursing, Eve Tenser sued her school and professor.

In the lawsuit, which was put before the Pennsylvania Board of Claims, Tenser said she put "time, effort, dedication and money" into her studies at Edinboro University in Edinboro, Pennsylvania, in exchange for a degree from the college. But the school "rescinded and repudiated said agreement... by issuing... a grade of 'F' in clinical nursing without justification, cause or merit."

Tenser is unemployable in her field without the degree, said her attorney, Rebecca DeSimone. So the plaintiff sought up to $20,000 or "reevaluation" of her clinical abilities and a nursing degree.

Bill Reed, a spokesman for Edinboro University, says that after having failed the test, Tenser was offered a chance to take the course again. But DeSimone says that because Tenser is a single mother of two children, that is not feasible.

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