Opinion ID: 1969579
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Plaintiffs' Allegation Educational Malpractice Claim

Text: Moss Rehab contends that Plaintiffs' complaint stated a third-party claim for educational malpractice. Moss Rehab further asserts that such a cause of action has not been, and should not be, recognized in Delaware as a matter of common law. Therefore, Moss Rehab argues that the Superior Court improperly denied their motion for summary judgment. Plaintiffs, however, assert that their complaint was not based upon educational malpractice. Instead, they contend that their complaint set forth allegations of well-established common-law negligence by Moss Rehab. This Court has concluded that, although the Plaintiffs' complaint did not use the words educational malpractice, it asserts such a cause of action. The complaint alleges that Moss Rehab was negligent in evaluating, recommending and training Sharp to drive a motor vehicle. The terms of those allegations encompass the traditional aspects of education. Therefore, despite Plaintiffs' contention to the contrary, this Court concludes that the allegations against Moss Rehab in the complaint constitute a claim of educational malpractice. Cf. Brantley v. District of Columbia, D.C.Ct.App., 640 A.2d 181, 183 (1994) (regardless of the phrasing of [plaintiff's] pleadings, the gravamen of her complaint is that [defendants] have engaged in `educational malpractice'). [5] A claim for educational malpractice is generally brought directly by a student against an educational institution. These cases involve allegations that, as a result of the institution's negligent instruction, the student received an inadequate education. See generally John G. Culhane, Reinvigorating Educational Malpractice Claims: A Representational Focus, 67 WASH.L.REV. 349 (1992). Educational malpractice claims may also be brought by a third party. Id. In those cases, third parties allege that they were injured by the school's former student due to the school's negligence in educating that student. The present case against Moss Rehab is a third-party claim for educational malpractice. This case presents a question of first impression. We must determine whether a third-party claim of educational malpractice against a driving school is a cognizable common-law cause of action in Delaware. [6] In making that determination, this Court has examined the law of other jurisdictions and other areas of Delaware law.