Actually there is lots of legal precedent about the side effects of Ambien. A woman who disrupted a flight so much that it had to return to its origins, was facing federal crimes, something like 30 years in prison, but when they found out that she had taken Ambien, they let her go, with 5 days of time served.

DUIs are more difficult and often prosecuted even though the person was "sleep driving," and that is well established. But other cases involving atypical behavior produced by this medication have been documented. That the University didn't even consider the medication in their evaluation of my behavior means that I have a pretty clear cut case to raise.

What I am concerned about right now is that this might end up feeling traumatic to me and reactivate PTSD symptoms. I need support for this possibility. My life has been destroyed. I'm 50 and my husband is 87. I am facing the reality that he will die and I have to have a career to support myself. I cannot pursue another school with a dismissal on my record so I don't think I have a choice about using legal advice. It is a question of my survival. For now I feel safe and somewhat relieved that I am away from what was becoming a progressively toxic environment. But it has implications that I cannot yet register. My life and future and career and reputation have all been destroyed. I'm afraid of what will happen when I start to take that in and really feel it.