The Newcomb Precedent

Abstract

This case study reviews the financial dispute and legal battle between the heirs of Josephine Newcomb and Tulane University. Following Hurricane Katrina (2005), Tulane’s Board of Directors announced Newcomb College’s closure to stabilize university finances. In response, Newcomb’s heirs filed suit against the university. In 2009, the Louisiana Supreme Court ruled in favor of Tulane, setting legal precedent for educational merger. Now, more than 10 years after Katrina, Newcomb alumnae continue to question whether Tulane administrators abused Newcomb’s financial intentions. This case study helps students consider the rights and interests of philanthropic donors from the perspective of different stakeholders.