A former University of Maryland student has filed a civil lawsuit against the University, two Title IX coordinators, and two students who were part of a campus sexual assault advocacy group. The lawsuit follows a two-and-a-half-year saga in which the student was accused and later exonerated of sexual assault claims by a fellow student.

According to the former student, the sexual misconduct investigation, directed by the University of Maryland's Office of Civil Rights and Sexual Misconduct, lasted ten months and cost him over $100,000 in legal fees. The former student wisely chose to be represented by counsel in the University's sexual misconduct investigation against him. If you are ever facing a sexual misconduct investigation, you need Title IX attorney-advisor Joseph D. Lento and his national Student Defense Team on your side.

Claims Against the Campus Advocacy Group

In the lawsuit, the former student claims that two members of a student advocacy organization on the University of Maryland Campus, "Preventing Sexual Assault," defamed him. (Defamation is the act of damaging the reputation of another by making false statements to another person.) Even after being cleared by the University's Office of Civil Rights and Sexual Misconduct of all guilt in the sexual assault investigation, two members of the organization continued to call him a rapist to friends and classmates. According to the former student, the two members of this organization made it their mission to “ruin his life at the University.”

The members of this organization succeeded. But unfortunately, the continued lies extended beyond just friends and classmates, reaching all aspects of the former student's life at the University. Despite his innocence, the University of Maryland's lacrosse club team removed the former student from the team.

Claims Against the University and Its Title IX Coordinators

The former student further alleges that the University, its Title IX Coordinator, and Title IX Deputy Coordinator were indifferent to the Preventing Sexual Assault members' continued defamation of him. The lawsuit states that the University and its staff acted indifferently to the harassment he received. He believes he received this treatment because he was a male student.

By ignoring the continued defamatory conduct against him, the University and its Title IX coordinators' inaction was its own form of retaliation against him. The lawsuit further states that the coordinators violated the equal protection clause of the 14^th Amendment when they failed to investigate the former student's complaints against the students calling him a rapist.

You Need Experienced Representation

If your University or peers have or are attempting to ruin your reputation, you have options. When your reputation is on the line, the stakes couldn't be higher. Allegations of sexual misconduct, whether true or not, and further perpetuated by lies against you can follow you throughout life. You need to fight because you cannot allow this incident to risk your future professional career and livelihood.

Joseph D. Lento and his Student Defense Team have represented numerous students and former students throughout the country who are just like you. You do not need to go into this alone; you need the best fighter on your side. Contact us today at 888-535-3686 today for help.