In the MeToo era, we've all gotten used to hearing stories about powerful men taking advantage of and sexually assaulting women with less power. But, as Dr. John Abraham's recent $15 million legal victory over Thomas Jefferson University shows, it is equally important that employers and institutions believe men.

Men are Victims, Too

In fact, sexual victimization of men by women is more common than previously thought. Multiple studies have found that a significant percentage of men have reported cases of being sexually victimized by women, though these assaults go chronically underreported largely due to social stigma. The CDC's National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey found that, though women are more likely to experience abuse perpetrated by men, among men who do report sexual victimization, nearly 70% report that their attackers were female.

It is imperative that men who have been treated poorly by educational institutions after they were wrongly accused of sexual offenses seek experienced legal counsel immediately to help them through the many issues involved. If you are in this situation, the Education Law Team at the Lento Law Firm can help. Call us at 888.535.3686 or contact us online today.

Wrongfully Accused

Dr. Abraham, a distinguished surgeon and professor at Thomas Jefferson University, was forced to leave his teaching position and give up clinical privileges at the university's facilities after he was accused of sexual assault in 2018. A female medical student, Jessica Phillips, said she woke up naked, disoriented, and covered in bruises in Abraham's bed after a party at his home.

However, Dr. Abraham alleged that Phillips had gotten him too drunk to consent and had taken advantage of him. Dr. Abraham reported his version of the events to University officials, who had a duty to report sexual misconduct under the anti-sex discrimination statute Title IX, but the University officials refused to investigate his claims, choosing to believe Phillips instead.

Career-ending Consequences

As a result, Dr. Abraham was forced to resign from his teaching position and surrender his clinical privileges at the university's medical facilities, losing nearly $2 million a year in compensation and suffering irreparable damage to his reputation.

The university closed its investigation into Dr. Abraham after he agreed to resign from his faculty position and abandon his clinical privileges. Dr. Abraham, however, did not abandon his desire for justice. He sued the university, saying that, because of how the school handled the matter, his career has been irreparably harmed.

Vindicated in Court

The $15 million he was awarded in his case against the university stands as a powerful call for due process and a cautionary tale against jumping to conclusions in sensitive cases, especially when the victims do not fit conventional assumptions about the balance of power. For Thomas Jefferson University, the verdict is also a harsh lesson in the importance of thorough investigations and unbiased hearings.

If you have been wrongly accused, or you feel like your side of the story is not being taken seriously, you need legal advocates who understand the issues and know how to fight for you. Call us today at 888.535.3686 or contact us online.