A 14-YEAR-OLD girl whose student exchange visit to France fell through has, with her parents, sued her former school for hurt feelings", the High Court was told yesterday.
Naomi Denton, with her parents, Mr Kenneth Denton and Ms Ann Denton of Fortfield House, Cowper Road, Rathmines, Dublin, has brought an action against Alexandra College, Milltown Road, Dublin.
The Dentons claim that in January last year they paid a deposit of Pounds 100 for a proposed student exchange for their daughter and a month later completed the application form.
It is alleged that Mr Denton, in filling in the form, added the words "save and except in a case where the company is negligent in its duties and/or responsibility".
In March, 1996, it is alleged a letter was received stating that it was unlikely that a "pairing" would be arranged for Naomi.
The Dentons alleged that at a meeting with the school's servants or agents Mr Denton was told he was considered to be litigious and a troublemaker.
The school, in its defence, said the Dentons' claim disclosed no reasonable cause of action and was vexatious. It denied there was any discrimination and rejected claims of malice and deceit.
Mr Justice O'Sullivan said a claim that the school's servants or agents had been guilty of deceit did not meet the standards of proof required by the courts. He accepted that the Dentons could apply to the courts to be allowed to make a claim that there had been misrepresentation by the school. He remitted the hearing to the Circuit Court.