Title IX
Title IX
Title IX
Under federal law every person has a right to pursue their education free from gender discrimination, sexual harassment, and sexual violence.
Sexual violence and harassment can destroy a student’s education and their ability to learn – particularly if a student is being sexually harassed or experiencing sexual violence by a teacher or fellow student. Survivors experience severe impacts on their emotional and mental health.
We represent students in K-12 and universities who have experienced sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, sexual violence, and discrimination at the hands of fellow students or teachers or other persons in positions of authority at their educational institutions.
We can help keep victims safe at school by:
- Representing students in school disciplinary proceedings
- Representing students who have been punished with retaliatory measures taken by schools after students reported their assaults or after the harassment or violence came to light through other means
- Representing students as young as 13 years old whose schools suspended them when the schools learned that they had been sexually assaulted by other students
C.A. Goldberg attorneys have ample experience in representing students at every phase of the Title IX complaint, investigatory, hearing, and litigation process. We represent students at their schools’ internal Title IX investigations and hearings, on administrative complaints to the Office of Civil Rights (OCR), and on lawsuits against educational institutions. We are relentless in pursuing schools that have failed or are failing to protect their students.
C.A. Goldberg victory: $950K FOR OUR CLIENT FROM NYC DEPT. OF ED FOR PUNISHING HER AFTER STAIRWELL SEXUAL ASSAULT
Know your rights:
Title IX of the Educational Amendment Law protects all students and employees from gender discrimination, sexual harassment and unlawful retaliation. This law applies to grade schools K-12, universities, colleges and any other education institutions that receive federal funds. Title IX includes protections against discrimination, sexual harassment, and sexual assault.
Under Title IX, students may seek money damages against schools that have been deliberately indifferent to sexual assault or harassment by other students, teachers, or school staff. Students can also seek claims for schools’ or offenders’ retaliation against them when they exercise their rights under Title IX. Retaliation can be effectuated in a vast number of ways and can include intimidation, threats, or coercion. It can also include subtly pernicious actions such as refusals to provide letters of recommendation, intentionally denying opportunities for academic growth, or refusing to separate an offender from a complainant.
C.A. Goldberg in Buzzfeed News: Sent Home From Middle School After Reporting A Rape
Under Title IX, schools are obligated to have policies in effect that prohibit sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, and sexual violence. These policies must include grievance procedures that provide for fair and prompt resolution when complaints are filed. Schools are also required to have measures that provide accommodations available to students to address the effects of sexual harassment and violence – these can include no-contact orders between students and their offenders, changing class schedules, and campus escort services.
Sexual harassment and sexual violence can take on many different shapes.
Examples of sexual harassment include:
- Stalking or obscene or harassing phone calls, texts, emails, social media posts
- Requests for sexual favors
- Sexually suggestive jokes, comments, innuendos
- Inappropriate touching
- Intimidation and bullying
- Non-consensual distribution of intimate images
- Unlawful surveillance (e.g. hidden cameras in bedroom or bathrooms or other places where there is an expectation of privacy)
Examples of sexual violence include the following:
- Sexual assault, battery, or coercion
- Attempted rape or rape
- Inappropriate touching
- Physical or aggressive sexual advances
C.A. Goldberg victory: FIRM’S TITLE IX COMPLAINT RESULTS IN U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS (OCR) INVESTIGATION IN TO NYC DEPT. OF ED FOR RETALIATION AGAINST RAPE VICTIM
How we help:
- We represent students in K-12 and universities who have experienced sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, sexual violence, and gender discrimination at the hands of fellow students or teachers or other persons in positions of authority at their educational institutions.
- We represent students who have been punished with retaliatory measures taken by schools after students reported their assaults or after the harassment or violence came to light through other means.
- We represent students as young as 13 years old who were suspended when their schools learned that they had been sexually assaulted by other students.
A selection of our recent successes in Title IX cases:
C.A. Goldberg victory: $950K FOR OUR CLIENT FROM NYC DEPT. OF ED FOR PUNISHING HER AFTER STAIRWELL SEXUAL ASSAULT
C.A. Goldberg victory: SIX-FIGURE SETTLEMENT FOR OUR CLIENT FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT ON A SCHOOL TRIP, AFTER WHICH THE VICTIM WAS SUSPENDED BY THE SCHOOL
C.A. Goldberg victory: FIRM’S TITLE IX COMPLAINT RESULTS IN U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS (OCR) INVESTIGATION IN TO NYC DEPT. OF ED FOR RETALIATION AGAINST RAPE VICTIM
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