Doe v. Board of Supervisors of the University of Louisiana System

The Case

A federal court in Louisiana found that, before a male student reportedly raped Jane Doe, a university system knew there was a “substantial risk that sexual abuse would occur” due to the male student’s alleged criminal sexual misconduct. The alleged perpetrator, a student at University of Louisiana at Lafayette, was arrested on a charge of forcible rape. The defendant university system disciplined him for “physical abuse or threat thereof against any person[,]” “conduct which threatens or endangers the health or safety of any such person[,]” “indecent or lewd conduct,” and “perversions or illicit sexual relations.” The male student subsequently transferred to Louisiana Tech, a separate school within the university system, and soon raped Jane Doe, as alleged in the pleadings. Three days after Jane reported the rape to the university system, the perpetrator withdrew from Louisiana Tech and returned to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette for the next academic term, without investigation or discipline.

Jane filed a civil complaint against the Board of Supervisors of the University of Louisiana System, which manages the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and Louisiana Tech, for Title IX violations and state law negligence. Jane and the university system filed cross motions for summary judgment. The court granted partial summary judgment to Jane and denied the university system’s motion. 

Less than a month later, and on the eve of trial, the case settled. Monica led the litigation representing Jane Doe.

The court’s opinion may be found here: https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/USCOURTS-lamd-3_22-cv-00338/USCOURTS-lamd-3_22-cv-00338-9

USA Today unearthed facts forming the basis for Jane Doe’s lawsuit and covered the matter, including here: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/08/07/woman-settles-title-ix-lawsuit-louisiana-colleges-rape/85545865007/