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On Monday, June 10, 2019, Wigdor LLP filed a lawsuit on behalf of Plaintiffs Claudia Cojocaru and Naomi Haber against John Jay College of Criminal Justice (“John Jay”), which contains allegations of sexual assault, sexual abuse, sexual harassment, gender discrimination and retaliation in violation of Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, New York State Human Rights Law, New York City Human Rights Law and the Gender Motivated Violence Act.
The lawsuit alleges that Ms. Cojocaru and Ms. Haber were subjected to egregious sexual misconduct, sexual harassment and sexual assault at the hands of several professors while they were undergraduate students, and for Ms. Cojocaru when she continued her affiliation with John Jay as an adjunct professor. As set forth in the Complaint, Ms. Cojocaru and Ms. Haber filed internal complaints regarding this misconduct in May 2018 and thereafter John Jay investigated these allegations.
However, the Complaint details numerous serious problems in the manner the investigation was carried out, including demonstrable bias by the investigators, discouraging Ms. Cojocaru and Ms. Haber from seeking legal representation, dragging out the investigation for more than a year and ignoring Ms. Cojocaru and Ms. Haber’s complaints regarding the investigation and the investigators. As alleged, despite being on actual knowledge of the inherent flaws in the investigation, John Jay repeatedly misrepresented to the community that the investigation was being conducted in a thorough and fair manner. Nonetheless, ultimately, numerous allegations of sexual misconduct were found to be substantiated by the investigation, according to the Complaint.
Today's @nypost: lawsuit alleges that John Jay College of Criminal Justice created a “cesspool of sexism, misogyny, sexual harassment and illegal drug use,” failed to properly investigate numerous allegations of sexual misconduct committed by professors. https://t.co/5HLdfVffsa pic.twitter.com/pxA4eDRdxf
— WigdorLaw (@WigdorLaw) June 11, 2019
Ms. Cojocaru and Ms. Haber are represented by Wigdor LLP Founding Partner Douglas H. Wigdor, Partners David E. Gottlieb and Jeanne M. Christensen, and Associate Hilary J. Orzick.
Statement from David E. Gottlieb, Partner at Wigdor LLP:
“John Jay must provide its students and faculty with an environment that is free from any form of sexual violence – period. John Jay has failed in this important obligation and has unfortunately sent a message that it is either unable or unwilling to adequately protect the members of its community.”
Read the Full Complaint HereThe Daily Beast
“John Jay College Professors Used Office ‘Swamp’ to Prey on Undergrads: Federal Lawsuit”
June 11, 2019
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NBC New York
“Ex-Students File Lawsuit, Allege John Jay Professors Created ‘Cesspool of Sexism’ and ‘Illegal Drug Use'”
June 11, 2019
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New York Post
“Ex-students say John Jay College, professors created a ‘cesspool of sexism'”
June 10, 2019
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Law360
“Ex-Students Accuse NYC College Of Rampant Sex Abuse”
June 10, 2019
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Gothamist
“John Jay College Of Criminal Justice Is ‘Cesspool Of Sexism,’ Lawsuit Alleges”
June 10, 2019
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Read OnlineNew York Law Journal
“Ex-John Jay College Students File Federal Lawsuit Alleging Faculty Sexual Misconduct”
June 11, 2019
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New York Daily News
“Profs at John Jay ‘swamp’ accused of sexually harassing students”
June 11, 2019
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New York Patch
“John Jay College Sued Over ‘Swamp’ Sex Scandal”
June 11, 2019
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AM New York
“John Jay professors fostered ‘cesspool’ of sex misconduct, drug use, lawsuit says”
June 10, 2019
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