The 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the arguments of a former student who sued Charlotte and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools over an alleged sexual assault near Myers Park High School in 2015. The appellate panel affirmed the decisions of US District Judge Robert Conrad in the case, where the student, identified as Jane Doe, claimed the city and school system mishandled her report of the assault.
The lawsuit, which sought damages exceeding $1 million, alleged that Doe was assaulted by another student despite her protests and calls for help. The jury ruled in January 2023 that CMS did not commit a federal Title IX violation in handling the complaint, meaning they would not have to pay damages to Doe.
While the trial court did not hold CMS accountable, Doe’s attorneys said she felt vindicated by the jury’s decision that she was sexually harassed. Despite the loss in court, Doe’s legal team expressed gratitude for the jury’s consideration of the evidence.
The lawsuit accused officials at Myers Park High School of being driven by sex-based stereotypes and gender biases in discounting Doe’s abduction and subsequent assault. The jury determined that CMS was not deliberately indifferent, one of the criteria used to assess a Title IX violation.
CMS responded with a statement expressing gratitude for the jury’s decision. Despite not holding the school system accountable, Doe’s legal team emphasized that the jury’s belief in her story was a significant victory for their client.
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