Jillian Doherty is seeking personal injury compensation from Emerson College. She claims that that the college mishandled her Massachusetts sexual assault case. Doherty wants compensation for the emotional trauma she suffered and her hospital bills and tuition. She dropped out of the school earlier this year.
Doherty says she was raped in April 2012 after having consensual sex with a male student after she refused to have anal sex with him. She contends that he forcibly penetrated her. The two of them were intoxicated at the time.
Doherty claims that she waited to report the incident nearly a year later because Emerson did a poor job of informing students about sexual assault and the resources that were available. When the accused provided new evidence and a character letter from someone who wasn’t even involved in the matter at the hearing, Doherty says she was not given a chance to respond. The male undergraduate was cleared in the case. However, following an appeal, the school found him responsible and he was expelled.
In her Springfield, MA injury case, Doherty says that Emerson violated its own policies. She claims that the assault and the way the Emerson handled the case caused her grades to drop. Doherty developed post-traumatic stress and chronic depression. Her request for academic accommodation was refused. Doherty sought hospital treatment and later withdrew from school.
Emerson is one of several Massachusetts colleges and universities that the US Department of Education is looking at for the way they handle sex assault cases. The college is also facing a Title IX probe. Doherty and several students also submitted a complaint to the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.
If you have been the victim of a Boston sexual assault crime on campus, do not hesitate to contact Altman & Altman, LLP today. You may have reason to pursue a civil case against your assailant and other parties.
Unfortunately, Massachusetts campus crimes happen on a regular basis. It is the responsibility of schools to create an atmosphere that discourages incidents of sexual and physical violence, as well as protect its students.
Ex-student says Emerson mishandled rape investigation, BostonGlobe, August 14, 2014
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