GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A federal lawsuit filed by a Lawrence University student – who claimed the school showed “deliberate indifference” to a male student who sexually assaulted her, and alleging he was allowed to remain on campus despite previous complaints about him – has been dismissed.
The woman, only identified as Jane Doe, sought unspecified damages from the Appleton school.
According to a court document filed Monday, “Plaintiff, Jane Doe, and Defendant, Lawrence University, through their respective attorneys, hereby stipulate to the dismissal with prejudice of all pending claims in the above-captioned action, with each party bearing its own fees and costs.”
There are no details regarding if any settlement was paid to the plaintiff.
In a statement, Lawrence University said:
“We can confirm that the plaintiff in the lawsuit Jane Doe vs. Lawrence University has withdrawn the suit. Lawrence University will continue our work to ensure that our campus is a safe and respectful environment for all members of the Lawrence community, and we affirm our commitment to providing a fair and equitable process for addressing Title IX claims.”
The plaintiff’s attorney has not responded to Fox 11’s request for comment.
The student, identified as Jane Doe, says after Oct. 28, 2017, party she returned to the dorm room of a male student. She was “intoxicated to the point where she was barely conscious,” and then the male sexually assaulted her, according to the 11-page complaint.
Several months later, the suit claims Lawrence University officials met with the girl and her parents and told them the school was aware of at least three prior reports “from women who had been harassed or assaulted” by the male – but that no formal complaints had made by the other victims.
In April, Lawrence expelled the man “because he had engaged in a pattern of predatory sexual assaults in violation of Lawrence’s Sexual Misconduct Policy and Title IX,” the lawsuit asserts.
The suit, filed in July 2018, claims the school took no action before Jane Doe was assaulted, despite the prior complaints, violating her rights under Title IX.
In court filings, Lawrence denied it had any complaints against the male student before Oct. 28. The school also denied an official told the parents there were previous complaints against the male student.
The male student was named in the lawsuit, but FOX 11 is not naming him, as a review of state court records does not show any criminal charges against him. Also, the male was not named as a defendant in the suit.
A March 2020 trial had been scheduled in the case.
