Hempstead, NY – A federal magistrate judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a Hofstra University student who claimed the school mishandled sexual assault allegations against him, ruling that his complaint failed to state a viable case under federal or state law.
In a September 8 opinion, Judge Steven I. Locke of the Eastern District of New York granted Hofstra University’s motion for judgment on the pleadings, ending the case.
The plaintiff, identified as John Doe, was a transfer student in Hofstra’s Bachelor of Fine Arts program. He alleged that he had an “on-again/off-again” consensual sexual relationship with a fellow student, identified as Jane Roe, in late 2022. According to Doe, one encounter ended abruptly when Roe told him she was “done,” at which point he stopped. Days later, Roe declined further advances and told him she believed the prior incident was sexual assault.
Roe later told classmates that Doe had raped her, according to the complaint. Doe alleged that the statements damaged his reputation and that Hofstra mishandled the situation in violation of Title IX and the New York State Human Rights Law.
Hofstra moved to dismiss, arguing that Doe had not plausibly alleged discrimination or retaliation. Judge Locke agreed, finding that Doe’s claims rested largely on conclusory statements without sufficient factual support to survive dismissal.
The ruling ends Doe’s lawsuit unless he seeks to appeal.
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Key Points
- Hofstra University student John Doe sued under Title IX and NYSHRL after being accused of sexual assault by another student.
- He claimed Hofstra’s handling of the matter violated his rights and harmed his reputation.
- A federal judge dismissed the case, granting Hofstra’s motion for judgment on the pleadings.
The decision closes a campus dispute that spilled into federal court, with the judge finding no legal grounds to proceed.