Maryland Supreme Court to Decide if Towson University Student Can Sue After 2021 Shooting

The court will determine if the university was negligent in its response to an unsanctioned campus party where a student was shot.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 10:12pm

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An extreme close-up of a spent bullet casing on a dark surface, reflecting a harsh, direct camera flash. The dramatic lighting and stark contrast create a gritty, investigative aesthetic that conceptually represents the violent incident at the center of this legal case.A shooting at an unsanctioned Towson University party raises questions about campus safety and institutional liability.Towson Today

The Maryland Supreme Court will decide whether a Towson University student who was shot at an unsanctioned campus party in 2021 can sue the school. The student, Catherine Torney, claims the university was negligent and that campus police were not properly trained or supervised, leading to the shooting. Both sides agree the university knew about the party and sent police, but they disagree on whether the school had a duty to take further action to prevent the violence.

Why it matters

This case could set an important precedent on the liability of universities for on-campus incidents, especially when they are aware of potentially dangerous situations but do not intervene. It speaks to the broader issue of campus safety and the responsibility of institutions to protect students.

The details

In September 2021, Torney was shot at a large, unsanctioned "pop-up" party in a common area on Towson's campus. She claims the university was negligent because it knew about the party, sent campus police, but then allowed the event to continue despite issues like underage drinking and a crowd of 400 people. The university argues it had no way to foresee that someone at the party would be armed, and that without clear signs of impending violence, it had no duty to take further action.

  • The shooting incident occurred in September 2021 at a party on Towson University's campus.
  • Oral arguments in the case were heard by the Maryland Supreme Court on April 9, 2026.

The players

Catherine Torney

A Towson University student who was shot at an unsanctioned campus party in 2021 and is now suing the school.

Towson University

The defendant in the lawsuit, accused of negligence and failing to properly train and supervise campus police in relation to the 2021 shooting incident.

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What they’re saying

“She's a student. She's in a common area. The university knows that these events happen. They're pop-up parties. In fact, one happened earlier and the police then were told to stand down by the university president and the chief of police, and they were told to stand down with respect to this pop-up party.”

— Joseph Cammarata, Petitioner's Attorney

“If the deejay could figure it out, you would think the two police officers could figure it out.”

— Joseph Cammarata, Petitioner's Attorney

“There was no indication that they knew that anyone at the party was armed. In the absence of any indication of violence or impending violence, there is no reasonable foreseeability. There's the possibility, but the possibility is not enough. It needs to be the reasonable probability and foreseeability.”

— Ryan Dietrich, University Attorney

What’s next

The Maryland Supreme Court will issue a ruling on whether Catherine Torney can proceed with her lawsuit against Towson University.

The takeaway

This case highlights the complex legal questions around a university's duty to protect students from harm, even at unsanctioned events on campus. The court's decision could have far-reaching implications for campus safety policies and liability.