Nebraska higher education institutions on all levels have a responsibility under Title IX to protect every student's rights regardless of the circumstances. This duty, however, isn't always honored, as some students slip through the cracks and are denied due process. Thousands of cases are filed by students every year alleging unlawful discrimination and the deprivation of their rights within disciplinary procedures.
This phenomenon is unsurprisingly prevalent in cases involving sexual misconduct. Respondent students especially report being treated unfairly during processes. Fortunately, students in this predicament have options to rectify their school's wrongdoing. One of these options is to file a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR).
What is an OCR Complaint?
Students who wish to hold their school accountable can contact the Office for Civil Rights and make a claim. The OCR is a government agency that investigates schools when students suspect that they've been denied equal access to education through the denial of their rights. If unlawful treatment is proven in a student's case, the OCR will enforce their rights and hold the institution accountable.
Why You Need an Attorney
To make sure you file successfully and you get results, it pays to have an experienced attorney to guide you through the process. Here are a few perks of getting legal help.
They can help you choose the right way to file. There are two ways students can file a complaint with the OCR. You can file by using a template or by writing your own letter. Your attorney can use their discretion based on the facts of your case to decide which alternative is best.
They will stay on top of deadlines. The OCR would prefer a complaint be filed within 180 days of the act of discrimination. But if you miss this deadline, there may be an opportunity to file with a waiver. An attorney can help you request what you need to get your claim submitted.
They can file for you. The ultimate advantage of hiring an attorney is that they can do all the legwork for you. Because they're an attorney, they can file on your behalf with no issues.
Contact the Lento Law Firm Today
If you've decided to file a complaint with the OCR, let an attorney help you through the process. Attorney Joseph D. Lento has the skills and expertise to help you preserve your rights under Title IX and your Nebraska school's policy. Contact him online or give him a call at 888-535-3686.
- Blackfeet Community College
- Carroll College
- Chief Dull Knife College
- Dawson Community College
- Flathead Valley Community College
- Fort Belknap College
- Fort Peck Community College
- Little Big Horn College
- Miles Community College
- Montana State University
- Montana State University Billings
- Montana State University Great Falls College of Technology
- Montana State University Northern
- Montana Tech of the University of Montana
- Montana Tech College of Technology
- Rocky Mountain College
- Salish Kootenai College
- Stone Child College
- The University of Montana
- The University of Montana Western
- University of Great Falls
- University of Montana Helena College of Technology
Students and parents at times do not realize until after a finding of responsibility and the imposition of adverse sanctions that sexual misconduct allegations at college can result in severe consequences academically and professionally and in the short and long-term. The earlier the necessary steps are taken to address a Title IX case, the better, because these are cases that can be won at the school-level. There are times, however, that the help of the Department of Education Office of Civil Rights (DOE-OCR) is needed and Joseph D. Lento has a decade of experience passionately fighting for the futures of his clients at colleges and universities throughout the nation and has helped many clients seek recourse with the DOE-OCR. He does not settle for the easiest outcome, and instead prioritizes his clients' needs and well-being. Joseph Lento is a licensed attorney in New Jersey and New York, who helps students in Nebraska with DOE-OCR Title IX complaints, is admitted as an attorney pro hac vice in state and federal court if needed when representing clients nationwide, and serves as a Title IX advisor to students facing disciplinary cases in Nebraska and throughout the nation. Make certain your or your student's interests are protected - Contact National Title IX attorney Joseph D. Lento today.
