Fr. Jay Fostner (Fox 11 Online)
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Rev. Jay Fostner, the former vice president for mission and student affairs at St. Norbert College, has dropped a defamation suit filed against a former student who publicly criticized his handling of Title IX issues.
No reason for the decision to drop the lawsuit was cited in the one-page court document filed in the case. The dismissal was dated Wednesday, court records show.
“It is stipulated and agreed upon by and between the parties, by their respective counsel, that the above-entitled action be dismissed with prejudice and without costs to any party,” the order states.
The move cancels a trial, which had been scheduled for October.
A statement provided by Fostner’s attorney says:
The above-referenced case was amicably resolved to the satisfaction of both parties on March 20, 2024. The parties have agreed not to comment on the resolution of the case or the underlying facts, expect to say the following: Ms. Uselman has never stated that Rev. Fostner covered up specific instances of sexual assault at St. Norbert College. Moreover, after reviewing evidence in the above-referenced case, Ms. Uselman is not aware of any evidence suggesting that Rev. Fostner covered up specific instances of sexual assault or conducted Title IX investigations or adjudications at St. Norbert College. Although Ms. Uselman has made comments in the past about specific conduct she believes Rev. Fostner engaged in, she has no reason to believe that he covered up specific allegations of sexual conduct or conducted Title IX investigations or adjudications at St. Norbert College.
There was recent activity in the case, with Fostner’s attorney filing a witness list earlier this month.
In April 2018, students raised concerns about how the college handled Title IX investigations, which relates to sexual discrimination in educational settings.
Fostner was among those criticized, although the lawsuit states he did not “investigate nor adjudicate allegations of sexual misconduct under SNC’s Title IX program.”
However, Fostner claims SNC alumna Margaret Uselman made allegations against Fostner on social media and through television and newspaper coverage — allegations Fostner says are false. Additionally, a college investigation cleared Fostner of any wrongdoing.
Fostner filed suit in December, alleging defamation. Usealman denied the allegations.
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