University of Idaho settled a 2017 lawsuit filed by a former law school student who alleged the university mishandled her sexual assault report.
The Associated Press, which broke the settlement news, reports the State of Idaho paid $200,000 to the former student last week, citing the Idaho Department of Administration.
The suit was dismissed permanently in Idaho Federal District Court. UI Director of Communications Jodi Walker and Brook Cunningham, Spokane-based lawyer with Randall | Danskins, confirmed the suit was settled but both declined to elaborate on the terms of the settlement.
The suits are two of at least three sexual assault-related lawsuits filed by former students against UI since 2016. One suit, filed by the former student’s alleged assailant, was dismissed permanently last June. One suit, filed by former swim and dive athlete Mairin Jameson, concluded hearings in mid-October before a judge determines if it should head to trial. UI has filed a motion to dismiss Jameson’s suit, arguing she failed to state a legal violation within the statute of limitations.
The student whose suit was settled alleges UI mishandled her 2016 sexual assault report by not providing proper accommodations during and after university hearings, which determined the alleged assailant likely assaulted her. She alleges a slew of mishaps, including two related to UI not separating her alleged assailant from her in classes they shared, though she claims administration promised once to address her concerns.
The former student alleges in her complaint that her alleged assailant was allowed to remain in classes they shared despite a no-contact order. Instead of removing the alleged assailant from their shared classes, the student alleges a UI administrator told her being moved to the back of their shared class was sufficient and that they told the her she could move to Boise, where UI has a law program. Another administrator allegedly offered to allow her to view lecture recordings.
Jameson’s suit relates to now-fired UI athletic director Rob Spear having mishandled her sexual assault report in 2013 by not forwarding it to the dean of students’ office and by telling her UI couldn’t investigate it because it occurred off campus. Both were violations of Title IX policy that were updated before Jameson’s report.
The Argonaut does not name victims or alleged victims of crimes, but Jameson previously agreed to be named in a story. The Argonaut is not naming the other female plaintiff.
This story has been corrected to state the State of Idaho paid the settlement with the former UI student.
Kyle Pfannenstiel can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter: @pfannyyy.