Title IX is a federal civil rights law that has been implemented and enforced in the majority of Louisiana schools, including the state's colleges and universities. It bans any form of gender-based discrimination on campuses, especially prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, and other discriminatory acts.
Title IX also requires the school to take immediate action upon notification of complaints involving sexual misconduct. If a student is found “responsible” for a violation after the resolution process has run its course, he or she has the right to challenge this decision by means of an appeal.
Your Right to Appeal
The right to appeal should be taken advantage of by student respondents, especially those found responsible for Title IX violations. Title IX sanctions are notoriously harsh. Students have been subjected to semester and year-long suspensions, program withdrawals, and expulsions. With such serious ramifications, it's important that every student in these situations ensures that the school's decision in their case is fair and founded. The only way a student respondent can effectively do so is by way of a written appeal.
Inquiries about the appellate process and your next steps when approaching an unfavorable Title IX case outcome should be discussed with a student defense attorney. Legal professional Joseph D. Lento can help you draft a compelling and effective appeal.
Grounds for an Appeal
An appeal is a request for a school to reconsider its decision. In order to overturn an unfavorable decision in your situation, this appeal must be based on specific grounds. Grounds accepted by a school are strictly related to issues, discrepancies, and inconsistencies in the Title IX resolution process. An appeal is not an opportunity to further assert your claims of innocence. The decision to overturn a determination and/or sanction hinges on how well you and your advisor can establish at least one of the following four grounds:
- Disproportionate sanction: the sanction(s) imposed is unduly disproportionate to the alleged violation.
- Procedural error: a serious mistake was made at some point in the Title IX resolution process, and it influenced the outcome of a determination and/or sanction.
- New evidence available: evidence that supports the case of a respondent, and would have had a substantial impact on a case outcome became available after a hearing.
- A violation of due process rights: an institution robbed a student of their entitled rights under Title IX and school policy.
Every school has its own unique appellate process detailing specific submission and content appeal guidelines. To identify deadlines, dates, and more important information check your school's student handbook or code of conduct. If your appeal is not submitted in a timely manner or is not considered substantively eligible, the initial sanction will stand.
Louisiana Title IX Appeal Advisor
If you are a student attending a Louisiana college or university with intentions of appealing a Title IX case outcome, you need the help of a skilled student defense attorney. Legal professional Joseph D. Lento has helped students in this situation clear their name, and overturn their finding by helping them submit a compelling appeal. He has the expertise, skill, and experience to help you do the same. Contact him online or give him a call at 888-535-3686 for assistance.
- Acadiana Technical College Lafayette Campus
- Baton Rouge College
- Baton Rouge Community College
- Blue Cliff College Alexandria
- Blue Cliff College Houma
- Blue Cliff College Metairie
- Blue Cliff College Shreveport
- Bossier Parish Community College
- Capital Area Technical College Baton Rouge Campus
- Career Technical College Shreveport
- Centenary College of Louisiana
- Central Louisiana Technical College Alexandria Campus
- Court Reporting Institute of Louisiana
- Delgado Community College
- Delta School of Business and Technology
- Dillard University
- Grambling State University
- Herzing University Kenner
- ITT Technical Institute Baton Rouge
- ITT Technical Institute Saint Rose
- L E Fletcher Technical Community College
- Louisiana College
- Louisiana Delta Community College Monroe Campus
- Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
- Louisiana State University Eunice
- Louisiana State University Alexandria
- Louisiana State University Shreveport
- Louisiana Tech University
- Loyola University New Orleans
- McCann School of Business & Technology Monroe
- McNeese State University
- Medvance Institute Baton Rouge
- Nicholls State University
- Northeast Louisiana Technical College Delta Ouachita Campus
- Northshore Technical Community College
- Northwest Louisiana Technical College
- Northwestern State University of Louisiana
- Nunez Community College
- Our Lady of Holy Cross College
- Our Lady of the Lake College
- Remington College Baton Rouge Campus
- Remington College Lafayette Campus
- Remington College Shreveport Campus
- River Parishes Community College
- Saint Joseph Seminary College
- South Central Louisiana Technical College Young Memorial Campus
- South Louisiana Community College
- Southeastern Louisiana University
- Southern University and A & M College
- Southern University at New Orleans
- Southern University at Shreveport
- Sowela Technical Community College
- Tulane University of Louisiana
- University of Louisiana at Lafayette
- University of Louisiana Monroe
- University of New Orleans
- University of Phoenix Baton Rouge
- University of Phoenix Lafayette
- University of Phoenix Louisiana Campus
- University of Phoenix Shreveport Bossier
- Virginia College
- Xavier University of Louisiana
A Title IX finding of responsibility can change an accused student's life if not properly addressed and appealed, and Joseph D. Lento has a decade of experience passionately fighting for the futures of his clients at universities and colleges throughout the nation. 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, 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 and educational consultant to students facing disciplinary cases in Louisiana and throughout the nation. Make certain your or your student's interests are protected - Contact National Title IX attorney Joseph D. Lento today.
