Michigan State University has settled a lawsuit for $1.2M with a woman and former football player who were involved in a Title IX investigation and lawsuits. They both agreed to put aside the findings of an investigation that discovered the football player violated the school’s sexual misconduct policy.
The former female student, referred to as Jane Doe, received $475,000 from the university while Keith Mumphery received $725,000.
Doe filed a lawsuit in November 2017, accusing the university of failing to provide her with support services and for not enforcing a campus ban against Mumphery, who was originally found not responsible in a 2015 Title IX investigation. However, he was found responsible the following year and sued the university for allegedly violating his due process rights. They didn’t keep him informed about the investigation and expelled him over what his lawsuit said were false accusations.
Mumphery was banned from the campus until Dec. 31, 2018 after an investigator found that he had violated school policy by sexually assaulting the woman. He has repeatedly denied the rape allegation, stating that the woman willingly engaged in sexual contact.
According to the documents, Mumphery and Doe agreed to put aside the decision determining Mumphery responsible for sexually assaulting the woman, in addition to the disciplinary action taken against Mumphery.
The settlement documents state that both Doe and Mumphery aren’t allowed to reveal any terms or conditions besides from letting Mumphery say only “that the findings of the Title IX investigation have been set aside,” and that both parties “agree not to make any public statements regarding the facts underlying MSU’s Title IX investigation and underlying the subsequent [lawsuits]” that would disparage another party.
Karen Truszkowski, Doe’s attorney, said that the terms of the settlement “do not exonerate or implicate Mr. Mumphery either way.”
“I’m puzzled as to why they were so eager to quickly settle Mr. Mumphery’s case, but any other survivor of any other harm they fight tooth and nail,” she said, referring to the way she said MSU has dealt with the complaints of sexual assault.
Visit Cohen & Cohen, P.C. for information about personal injury claims.
