PONSOR, U. S. District Judge.
Plaintiff, a former student at Defendant Western New England University ("WNEU") — proceeding under the pseudonym John Doe — has filed a twelve-count
In response, Defendants have filed a Motion to Dismiss the complaint in its entirety. (Dkt. No. 30). The motion was referred to Magistrate Judge Katherine A. Robertson for a Report and Recommendation.
Both Plaintiff and Defendants have filed objections to the Report and Recommendation in accordance with the timetable set forth in the Magistrate Judge's memorandum. For the reasons set forth below, these objections are unpersuasive. As a result, on de novo review, the court will adopt the Report and Recommendation and allow the motion to dismiss the complaint, in part.
It is not necessary to repeat the essential facts; they are scrupulously recited in the Report and Recommendation and, for purposes of the motion to dismiss, largely undisputed. The Report and Recommendation is attached for reference.
Plaintiff does not protest the Report's recommendation that most of his claims be dismissed. He objects only to dismissal of two counts: Count VII, which seeks damages for common law intentional infliction of emotional distress; and Count XI, which seeks damages for violation of Title IX. Though vigorously asserted, neither of these objections has traction.
With regard to Count VII, the Report correctly concludes that, even accepting all the allegations of the complaint, Defendants' behavior would not, as a matter of law, rise to the level of outrageousness necessary to support a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress. This conclusion is well supported, both by general authorities detailing the standards for a claim of this sort, and by specific cases involving precisely the disciplinary context the parties confront here. (Dkt. No. 54 at 43-44.)
Plaintiff's arguments in support of his objection to the dismissal of Count XI are similarly unavailing. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1681-88, is a federal statute barring gender-based discrimination in federally supported educational institutions. As the Report points out, a claim may be offered pursuant to Title IX only where non-speculative evidence exists of discrimination based on sex.
Defendants' objections to the Report and Recommendation similarly fall short, but require more discussion. A summary of the facts that are undisputed at this stage is necessary to make the basis for the court's ruling clear.
The triggering incident, a sexual encounter between Plaintiff Doe, a male, and a female fellow student — referred to in this litigation as Loe — occurred on the night, and during the early morning hours, of September 26-27, 2014. At that time, the only applicable standards governing claims of sexual misconduct by a student were set forth in the Student Code of Conduct contained in WNEU's 2014-2015 Handbook.
The undeveloped facts that led — nine months after the incident — to the charges of misconduct against Plaintiff may be summarized crudely as follows. The word "crudely" is used in both senses. It is distasteful to have to get into these details but unfortunately necessary.
Doe and Loe met at a party. They consumed some alcohol, but not enough to be impaired. They went to Doe's room, ostensibly to watch a movie. They began kissing. By mutual consent, they both removed all their clothing. Loe said she did not want to have penile-vaginal intercourse, and Doe respected this. By mutual consent, they began performing oral sex on each other. At some point, Loe said she did not want to continue this, and Doe stopped. At this point, Doe's and Loe's versions of what happened appear to diverge slightly. According to Doe, he asked Loe to "finish him off" so that he would not be left with "blue balls." She then masturbated him to ejaculation. (
Based on this incident, Defendants eventually informed Plaintiff that he was being charged with two violations of Article III-A of the 2014-2015 Handbook's Student Code of Conduct. Plaintiff prepared his defense to the charges based on this disclosure.
Eventually, WNEU's Conduct Review Board (CRB), the quasi-judicial entity responsible for weighing the charges and determining the sanction, found Plaintiff had committed the violations and suspended him for two years. The crucial factual tipping point was that the CRB found Loe's version of the facts — that Doe said, "now you have to finish me off," before placing her hand on his penis — more credible than Doe's version, which was that he first said, "Could you at least finish me off?" (
Now the analysis reaches its key moment. In issuing its November 2015 sanction letter, the CRB relied not on the provisions of the applicable 2014-2015 Handbook, but on language contained in its Title IX policy. It is undisputed that this policy was not in effect in September 2014 when Doe and Loe had their fateful encounter.
Defendants argue vehemently that the CRB's reference to the Title IX policy has no bearing on the motion to dismiss, since both the 2014-2015 Handbook and the Title IX policy prohibit coerced sexual conduct of any kind and both define coerced sex as sex without consent.
The problem with this argument is that the Title IX policy defines what constitutes coerced sex significantly more broadly than the Handbook. The Title IX policy, but not the Handbook, states that "[a]nything but a clear, knowing and voluntary consent to any sexual activity is equivalent to a `no.'" (Id. at 11.) The CRB concluded that, in the absence of clear and voluntary consent, the masturbation was non-consensual and therefore coerced.
Reasonable people may debate which standard is preferable. It cannot fairly be denied, however, that the Title IX standard demanded more than the Handbook required.
Defendants concede that the Title IX policy was not in effect at the time of Plaintiff's alleged misconduct and was therefore inapplicable. Meticulous adherence to definitional boundaries and notification requirements regarding what constituted consent and coercion was especially critical in determining whether discipline was appropriate on this record's factual landscape. Certainly, Judge Robertson was correct in concluding that, at a minimum, Plaintiff is entitled to discovery before losing his day in court on this issue.
For the foregoing reasons, upon
This case is hereby referred to Magistrate Judge Robertson for a scheduling conference pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 16.
It is So Ordered.
ROBERTSON, UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE.
Plaintiff John Doe ("Plaintiff")
Now before the court is Defendants' motion to dismiss all contested counts (Dkt. No. 30),
Defendants move to dismiss the Complaint under Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) (Dkt. No. 30). "Motions to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6) ... test the sufficiency of the pleadings." Hagenah v. Cmty. Enter., Inc., Case No. 15-cv-30036-KAR, 2016 WL 1170963, at *3 (D. Mass. Mar. 23, 2016). "To survive a motion to dismiss, a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to `state a claim [for] relief that is plausible on its face.'" Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 679, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009) (quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007)). "Plausibility does not demand a showing that the claim is likely to succeed. It does, however, demand a showing of `more than a sheer possibility' of success." Butler v. Balolia, 736 F.3d 609, 616 (1st Cir. 2013) (quoting Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937). In order to meet the plausibility standard, "[t]he plaintiff must proffer more than mere `labels and conclusions' or `naked assertions devoid of further factual enhancement.'" Garrity, Levin & Muir, L.L.P. v. United States, No. CV 15-11405-RGS, 2015 WL 6126816, at *2 (D. Mass. Oct. 16, 2015) (quoting Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937).
Doe v. Brown Univ., 166 F.Supp.3d 177, 183 (D.R.I. 2016) (quoting Garcia-Catalan v. United States, 734 F.3d 100, 103 (1st Cir. 2013)).
In deciding Defendants' motion to dismiss, the court must determine whether the facts that are alleged in Plaintiff's Complaint and in documents that were submitted as exhibits to his original complaint, which are incorporated by reference into the Complaint, clear the plausibility hurdle (Dkt. Nos. 1, 22).
Plaintiff, who is a Maine resident, was a full-time student at the University in September 2014 (Dkt. No. 22 ¶ 41).
After Loe dressed and left Plaintiff's room, she sent text messages to at least two friends conveying details of her experience through words and positive "emojis"
On June 16, 2015, Loe reported the September 26-27, 2014 incident to Defendant Joanne Ollson, the University's Title IX officer (id. at ¶¶ 46, 95). Loe told Ollson that her attendance at a sexual assault prevention workshop in January 2015 precipitated her report (Dkt. No. 22 ¶ 112; Dkt. No. 31-5 at 3; Dkt. No. 31-14 at 5). In her first report about the encounter, Loe alleged that after Plaintiff asked her questions that made her "`uncomfortable,'" he got on top of her, ripped off her clothes, digitally penetrated her vagina, and forced her to fellate him and to submit to oral sex, despite her repeated protests of "no" (Dkt. No. 22 ¶¶ 102-109; Dkt. No. 31-1 at 2-4). Loe told Ollson that, the following day, she sent text messages to her best friend about the incident (Dkt. No. 31-1 at 3). She requested no contact with Plaintiff (id.).
On June 26, 2015, after Loe's report to Ollson, Defendants Donna Rae Kenneally and Beth A. Hill, the University's Title IX investigators, informed Plaintiff by letter that the University was investigating "an allegation that [he] may have engaged in acts of serious misconduct," including sexual misconduct (Dkt. No. 22 ¶ 64; Dkt. No. 31-2 at 2, 3).
Kenneally and Hill interviewed Plaintiff on July 10, 2015 in the presence of his counsel and the University's general counsel (Dkt. No. 22 ¶ 122). At the outset of the meeting, Hill told Plaintiff that she was the University's Title IX investigator and that the investigation would be "`totally neutral'" (id. at ¶ 123). When the investigators asked Plaintiff for his "`side of the story,'" his counsel intervened and asked that Plaintiff be advised of the allegation prior to speaking to the investigators (Dkt. No. 22 ¶¶ 124-127; Dkt. No. 31-4 at 2). Plaintiff and his counsel reviewed Ollson's summary of her June 16, 2015 interview of Loe (Dkt. No. 22 ¶ 127; Dkt. No. 31-4 at 2). Plaintiff's counsel copied "the relevant portions of the document by hand" because the University did not provide Plaintiff with a copy of the interview summary (Dkt. No. 22 ¶¶ 130-131; Dkt. No. 31-4 at 2).
As Plaintiff's counsel copied the summary, Hill "began yelling at [Plaintiff], aggressively insisting that [Plaintiff] could not take any more time to review ... Ollson's interview summary of Loe, and insisting that [Plaintiff] had to immediately
Loe was interviewed twice by Kenneally and Hill. During the first interview on July 14, 2015, Loe indicated that she did not object when Plaintiff kissed her (Dkt. No. 22 ¶ 138; Dkt. No. 31-5 at 2). She said she refused Plaintiff's request to remove her clothing, but she could not recall how or when her clothing was removed (Dkt. No. 22 ¶¶ 142, 143, 149; Dkt. No. 31-5 at 2-3). Her clothing was not torn (Dkt. No. 22 ¶ 148; Dkt. No. 31-5 at 3). When Plaintiff asked Loe to have sexual intercourse, she said, "no," and he honored her communication; that is, they did not have penile/vaginal intercourse (Dkt. No. 22 ¶¶ 144, 145; Dkt. No. 31-5 at 2-3). According to Loe, Plaintiff performed cunnilingus while his penis was in her mouth (Dkt. No. 22 ¶ 155; Dkt. No. 31-5 at 3). When Loe told Plaintiff to "stop," he complied with her request, and told her that she had "`to finish [him] off'" (Dkt. No. 22 ¶¶ 157, 158; Dkt. No. 31-5 at 3). He "put [Loe's] hand on his penis and ejaculated" (Dkt. No. 22 ¶ 158; Dkt. No. 31-5 at 3).
Kenneally and Hill's second interview with Loe was on September 1, 2015, after their interviews of "multiple witnesses" (Dkt. No. 22 ¶¶ 163, 165; Dkt. No. 31-6 at 2). Loe indicated that although she had consumed about three drinks at the party, she was not incapacitated (Dkt. No. 22 ¶ 166; Dkt. No. 31-6 at 2). This time, Loe said that after she and Plaintiff performed mutual oral sex for less than a minute, Loe said, "no" (Dkt. No. 31-6 at 2). Plaintiff said, "`[F]ine, you have to finish me off'" (Dkt. No. 31-6 at 2). Loe was not sure whether Plaintiff ejaculated in her hand or on the bed (Dkt. No. 22 ¶ 167; Dkt. No. 31-6 at 2). Loe told the investigators that her pants were torn at the seam (Dkt. No. 22 ¶ 168; Dkt. No. 31-6 at 2).
With counsel, Plaintiff attended a pre-hearing informational meeting on October 14, 2015 in the office of Defendant Kymberly Hendricks, the University's Assistant Director of Residence Life for Programming and Graduate Housing (Dkt. No. 22 ¶¶ 51, 189). The University's general counsel also attended the meeting (id. at ¶ 189). Hendricks told Plaintiff, "`It's the University versus the student'" (id. at ¶¶ 198, 199). The University's general counsel repeatedly informed Plaintiff that he "was in the predicament he was in because [he] had `failed to come forward' to provide his own statement about what had happened" (id. at ¶ 194).
Hendricks presented Plaintiff with a document entitled "Pre-hearing Informational Meeting, Cases involving Consideration of Suspension or Dismissal from [WNEU]" (Dkt. No. 22 ¶ 190; Dkt. No.
The form notified Plaintiff of his obligations to provide a list of witnesses to Hill by a certain date and to present a written statement to the hearing board, and stated that it was Plaintiff's responsibility to ensure that his witnesses attended the hearing on time (Dkt. No. 31-8 at 3). Plaintiff was referred to specific articles within Sections III and IV of the Student Conduct Code in the Handbook for additional details (id.). By his signature, Plaintiff confirmed that he received a copy of the form as well as copies of the witness list and advisor forms that he was required to return (id.).
On October 26, 2015, Hill notified Plaintiff that Defendants Sean Burke and Adina Elfant, Ph.D., the Conduct Review Board ("CRB"), would hold the hearing on November 3, 2015 (Dkt. No. 22 ¶ 218; Dkt. No. 31-9 at 2).
Plaintiff submitted a written statement at the conduct review hearing and orally presented his version of events (Dkt. No. 22 ¶ 22; Dkt. No. 31-13 at 2). The CRB "repeatedly refused" to pose Plaintiff's proposed questions to witnesses, while they asked most of Loe's proposed questions (Dkt. No. 22 ¶¶ 249, 250, 251). In addition, the hearing officers permitted Loe to "make lengthy self-laudatory statements" (id. at ¶ 253).
(Dkt. No. 22 ¶¶ 258, 260; Dkt. No. 31-13 at 2-3) (italics original).
The CRB indicated that the two year suspension was "effective immediately" and that Plaintiff could return to the University for the Fall 2017 semester as long as he completed "an educational training on sexual misconduct" and provided proof of the training to the University (Dkt. No.
Hart-Steffes denied Plaintiff's appeal (Dkt. No. 22 ¶ 274; Dkt. No. 31-14 at 2). In response to Plaintiff's argument that he was found in violation of "`a policy that did not even exist,'" Hart-Steffes stated that the policy existed and cited:
(Dkt. No. 22 ¶ 277; Dkt. No. 31-14 at 2, 3). She further advised that Plaintiff received "procedural protections" under the Title IX Policy, which were "more expansive" than the rights articulated in the 2014-2015 Student Code of Conduct (Dkt. No. 31-14 at 2). For example, the Title IX Policy permitted an attorney to act as an advisor, but the Student Code of Conduct did not (id.).
Hart-Steffes rejected Plaintiff's twelve other claimed errors in the hearing process, which included alleged denials of access to information prior to the hearing, complaints about Plaintiff's witnesses' absence, and imposition of an unfair sanction (Dkt. No. 22 ¶ 273; Dkt. No. 31-14 at 3-5). She found that the hearing officers "followed [the University's] process and procedures exactly as they should" and that the two-year suspension was fair and reasonable (Dkt. No. 31-14 at 5). Hart-Steffes, however, put Plaintiff's Fall 2015 suspension in abeyance, permitted Plaintiff to complete his courses as an "on-line student" where possible, and allowed him to take his final examinations on campus "[w]ith special permission" (Dkt. No. 31-14 at 5-6).
Plaintiff filed his original complaint against Defendants on November 2, 2015 (Dkt. No. 1). After a hearing, the district court denied Plaintiff's motions for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction on November 3, 2015 (Dkt. Nos.
The parties agree that Massachusetts law applies in this case, and that under state law, the relationship between a student and a university is based on contract (Dkt. No. 22 ¶ 70; Dkt. No. 33 at 2 n.3; Dkt. No. 36 at 7).
Count I of the Complaint asserts that the University breached its contract with Plaintiff by (1) applying the Title IX Policy retroactively to the incident between Plaintiff and Loe; (2) failing to investigate; (3) violating Plaintiff's right to an effective advisor throughout the investigation and at the hearing; (4) failing to provide Plaintiff with copies of the records to which he was entitled; (5) failing to secure the presence of witnesses favorable to Plaintiff at the hearing; and (6) violating its obligations to presume Plaintiff innocent, to bear the burden of proof and the burden of production of evidence at the hearing, and to apply the correct standard of proof (Dkt. No. 22 ¶ 286).
Due to the time that elapsed between the alleged sexual contact and WNEU's investigation and formal disciplinary proceedings, the contract terms are contained in three documents: the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 Handbooks, which included the Student Code of Conduct, and descriptions of the student judicial system and the judicial process (Dkt. No. 1-2 at 3-4 [2015-2016 Handbook]; Dkt. No. 1-3 [2014-2015 Handbook] at 4-5); and the Title IX Policy, which contained standards of conduct and the complaint resolution procedure (Dkt. No. 1-6). The parties agree that the 2014-2015 Handbook's provisions applied to Plaintiff's alleged sexual misconduct in September 2014, and to the investigation in June and July 2015 (Dkt. No. 22 ¶¶ 263, 264, 270; Dkt. No. 33 at 2 n.3, 23-24). See Doe v. Brandeis Univ., 177 F.Supp.3d 561, 581, 596 (D. Mass. 2016) (hereinafter Brandeis) (university "applied the substantive policies (but not the procedures) for the academic year in which the conduct occurred"); Coveney v. President & Trs. of the Coll. of the Holy Cross, 388 Mass. 16, 445 N.E.2d 136, 140 (1983) (applying the terms of the student handbook in effect at the time of the incident and student's expulsion). Defendants do not dispute that the Title IX Policy was "updated and implemented in November 2014" and amended in July 2015 (Dkt. No. 33 at 23-24), which made it applicable to the investigation in June and July 2015 and to the formal disciplinary process, which commenced in October 2015 (Dkt. No. 1-6 at 2, 13; Dkt. No. 22 ¶ 261). See Brandeis, 177
"When interpreting contracts between students and their academic institutions, under Massachusetts law courts `employ "the standard of reasonable expectation — what meaning the party making the manifestation, the university, should reasonably expect the [student] to give it."'" Bleiler, 2013 WL 4714340, at *15. See also Havlik v. Johnson & Wales Univ., 509 F.3d 25, 34-35 (1st Cir. 2007); Cloud, 720 F.2d at 724; Schaer v. Brandeis Univ., 432 Mass. 474, 735 N.E.2d 373, 378 (2000). "Contract interpretation, including whether any ambiguities exist in the disputed contractual terms, is generally a question of law for the [c]ourt." Bleiler, 2013 WL 4714340, at *15 (citing Driscoll v. Bd. of Trs. of Milton Acad., 70 Mass.App.Ct. 285, 873 N.E.2d 1177, 1185-86 (2007)). "Where, as here, the university specifically provides for a disciplinary hearing ... [the court] review[s] the procedures followed to ensure that they fall within the range of reasonable expectations of one reading the relevant rules." Cloud, 720 F.2d at 724-25. As is the case with interpretation of the Handbook provisions, "an objective reasonableness standard" applies. Walker v. President & Fellows of Harvard Coll., 82 F.Supp.3d 524, 530 (D. Mass. 2014) (quoting Cloud, 720 F.2d at 724-25).
Plaintiff recites a litany of complaints about the process, each of which is addressed below. In the court's view, only two of these state actionable breach of contract claims.
The sexual encounter between Plaintiff and Loe occurred on September 26-27, 2014, more than six weeks before the University implemented the Title IX Policy that it relied on to conclude that Plaintiff had engaged in sexual misconduct (Dkt. No. 1-6 at 13; Dkt. No. 22 ¶ 3). After Loe's complaint to the Title IX officer in June 2015, the University notified Plaintiff that he allegedly violated two Student Code of Conduct provisions contained in the 2014-2015 Handbook (Dkt. No. 1-3 at 37, 54; Dkt. No. 31-8 at 2-3). In determining that Plaintiff was responsible for violating the University's sexual misconduct policy, however, the CRB applied the University's Title IX Policy's descriptions of sexual misconduct implemented after the sexual contact at issue (Dkt. No. 22 ¶¶ 258, 260; Dkt. No. 31-13 at 2-3). Plaintiff's assertion that the University violated its agreement with him encompasses two related claims: (1) he did not receive notice of the prohibited conduct for which he was ultimately found responsible; and (2) prior to the hearing, he did not have notice of the policy that he was alleged to have violated (Dkt. No. 22 ¶ 286). Because the court is not persuaded by the University's argument that the Title IX Policy merely filled a "definitional hole" in its prior sexual misconduct policy (Dkt. No. 33 at 24), the court finds that Plaintiff states a plausible claims for relief.
The pertinent segments of the 2014-2015 Handbook and the Title IX Policy are as follows.
Section One articulates the following "Guiding Philosophy":
(Dkt. No. 1-3 at 35).
Section Two contains the Student Code of Conduct (Dkt. No. 1-3 at 35). Article III of the Student Code of Conduct describes "Specific Standards of Behavior" as follows:
(Dkt. No. 1-3 at 37).
(Dkt. No. 1-3 at 38).
The relevant portions of the Sexual Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Policy, which is contained in Section III of the 2014-2015 Handbook, states:
(Dkt. No. 1-3 at 53-54) (emphasis original).
The last page of the 2014-2015 Handbook contains a single paragraph describing Title IX (Dkt. No. 1-3 at 61). This section indicates that WNEU "does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its education programs; sexual harassment and sexual violence are types of sex discrimination that will not be tolerated at the University" (id.). It also lists the Title IX officer, Ollson, and the two deputies, Burke and another (Dkt. No. 1-3 at 62).
The Title IX Policy, implemented on November 17, 2014, describes "Prohibited Conduct," including "Sexual Misconduct" and "Sexual Assault" (Dkt. No. 1-6 at 4-6, 13), as follows:
(Dkt. No. 1-6 at 4) (emphasis added).
(Dkt. No. 1-6 at 5-6). The Title IX Policy continues by describing the University's reporting requirements, including the requirements for claims of sexual misconduct and the resulting investigation (Dkt. No. 1-6 at 7-8). The Policy states that the procedures for the resolution of claims that are outlined in the Handbook's Student Code of Conduct in the Student Handbook apply to cases in which the respondent is a student, and provides a link to the 2014-2015 Handbook for a description of these procedures (Dkt. No. 1-6 at 8).
The purpose of the Handbook's Student Code of Conduct in September 2014 was to "help students understand and accept their obligations as members of the community" (Dkt. No. 1-3 at 35). The rules and policy statements were aimed at "clarify[ing] commonly accepted standards of conduct" (id.). In other words, the Student Code of Conduct was the contract between the University and Plaintiff, which gave Plaintiff notice that the failure to comply with defined standards of conduct could lead to sanctions.
The question, therefore, is whether, under an objective standard, the University reasonably could expect a student in Plaintiff's position to understand that the 2014-2015 Handbook prohibited the conduct in which he engaged with Loe. See Cloud, 720 F.2d at 724; Bleiler, 2013 WL 4714340, at *15 (citing Schaer, 735 N.E.2d at 378). In defining sexual misconduct and consent, the 2014-2015 Handbook and the Title IX Policy draw nuanced distinctions that may be difficult for a college student, not trained in the law, to understand and apply. Nonetheless, as a student at WNEU, Plaintiff agreed to abide by Defendant's student Standards of Behavior, including the sexual harassment and sexual misconduct policy and the Title IX Policy. The Title IX policy in effect when Plaintiff and Loe had their sexual encounter in September 2014 provided only that sexual harassment and sexual violence were forms of sexual discrimination that would not be tolerated (Dkt. No. 1-3 at 61). Thus, under the agreement between Plaintiff and Defendant, Plaintiff's obligation, at the time of his sexual encounter with Loe, was to comply with Defendant's sexual harassment and sexual misconduct policy (Dkt. No. 1-3 at 37, 54). That policy provided, insofar as relevant, that "sexual misconduct" referred to any form of "physical conduct or exploitation of another person of a sexual nature ... made without effective consent" (Dkt. No. 1-3 at 54). Consent had to be clearly communicated (id.).
A finder of fact could conclude in this case that: (1) the CRB found, explicitly or implicitly, that Loe consented to certain forms of sexual intimacy with Plaintiff and that he complied when she said "no" to penile/vaginal intercourse and further oral sex; (2) the CRB did not conclude that Loe said "no" when Plaintiff either asked or instructed her to "finish him off;" and (3) the CRB found that Loe was not impaired and was in a condition to make free and informed choices and that she clearly communicated consent to some forms of
Even if the CRB could reasonably conclude that Plaintiff's demand that Loe "finish him off" constituted pressuring her for sex in violation of Defendant's Title IX Policy, that policy was not in effect and was not part of the contract between Plaintiff and Defendant as of September 26-27, 2014. A jury could conclude that the University could not reasonably expect a student who read the 2014-2015 Handbook's sexual misconduct policy to intuit that it included the Title IX Policy's more finely tuned definition of sexual misconduct. See Schaer, 735 N.E.2d at 378. At a minimum, the Handbook's standards regarding coercion are ambiguous, which results in its terms being construed against the University. See Brandeis, 177 F.Supp.3d at 594 (citing cases); Suffolk Constr. Co. v. Lanco Scaffolding Co., 47 Mass.App.Ct. 726, 716 N.E.2d 130, 133 (1999) ("Contract language is ambiguous where `an agreement's terms are inconsistent on their face or where the phraseology can support reasonable difference of opinion as to the meaning of the words employed and the obligations undertaken'") (quoting Fashion House, Inc. v. K Mart Corp., 892 F.2d 1076, 1083 (1st Cir. 1989)). Plaintiff has sufficiently pled that the University breached the contract by finding him responsible for behavior that was not included in the 2014-2015 Handbook's description of prohibited conduct. For the foregoing reasons, the court concludes that Plaintiff's breach of contract claim should not be dismissed insofar as he alleges that he was disciplined for conduct that was not prohibited under existing policies.
Plaintiff further claims that he received insufficient notice of the allegations that he would have to prepare to meet at the hearing because he was not informed that the CRB would apply the Title IX Policy to him (Dkt. No. 22 ¶ 286). The court agrees.
Section Four of Section III of the 2015-2016 Handbook, which applies to the disciplinary process here, outlined the "Judicial Process" (Dkt. No. 1-2 at 42-45). Article III of Section Four describes the process to which a "respondent" — a student allegedly in violation of the University's applicable policy or procedure — was entitled in cases, such as this, which involved consideration of suspension or dismissal (Dkt. No. 1-2 at 38, 43-45). Plaintiff was entitled to receive "a written statement identifying the section of the Student Code of Conduct that was allegedly violated and the possible sanction(s) that might apply" at the pre-hearing informational meeting (Dkt. No. 1-2 at 43). The Handbook also required the University to provide "the specific charge(s) relating to the alleged misconduct" in the written notice of the conduct review hearing (id.).
The Pre-hearing Informational Meeting form notified Plaintiff that he was alleged to have violated the following two standards within the Student Code of Conduct:
(Dkt. No. 1-3 at 37, 54; Dkt. No. 22 ¶ 191; Dkt. No. 31-8 at 2). The letter that notified him of the conduct review hearing and the CRB's post-hearing decision reiterated these descriptions of the two standards that he allegedly violated (Dkt. No. 31-9 at 2; Dkt. No. 31-13 at 2).
The CRB found that "it was more likely than not" that Plaintiff violated "both of the standards of the Student Code of Conduct under which [he was] charged" (Dkt. No. 31-13 at 2). The CRB's decision, however, was based on its findings that Plaintiff violated two sections of the Title IX Policy on Sexual Misconduct, which were not included in either the 2014-2015 Handbook or the notices provided to Plaintiff (Dkt. No. 1-3 at 37, 54; Dkt. No. 31-8 at 2; Dkt. No. 31-13 at 2). The University could not reasonably expect Plaintiff to understand that the descriptions of his alleged misconduct, which it provided to him prior to the hearing, included the Title IX Policy on sexual misconduct. See Cloud, 720 F.2d at 724. The lack of adequate notice of the charges suffices to state a claim for a breach of contract. See Fellheimer v. Middlebury Coll., 869 F.Supp. 238, 246-47 (D. Vt. 1994) (holding that the college breached the contract contained in the student handbook because "[t]he undisputed facts show that [plaintiff] was never told what conduct, if proven by a preponderance of the evidence at the hearing, would violate the ... portion of the [h]andbook" for which he was sanctioned).
In addition, the Complaint states adequate grounds for the claim that Plaintiff's hearing was unfair due to the lack of adequate notice. See id. Although a student's due process rights do not equate to those afforded to a criminal defendant, see Schaer, 735 N.E.2d at 381, adequate warning of the misconduct that could result in a student's discipline is a fundamental element of fairness in the proceeding. See Brandeis, 177 F.Supp.3d at 602-03 (denying motion to dismiss for breach of contract and holding that university's failure to provide plaintiff with notice of the specific charges "may have substantially impaired the fairness of the proceeding"). Sufficient notice of the alleged misconduct is necessary to the preparation of a defense. See Fellheimer, 869 F.Supp. at 246-47. Here, Plaintiff presented his version of events to the CRB with the understanding that he was alleged to have violated standards of conduct in the 2014-2015 Handbook (Dkt. No. 22 ¶ 22; Dkt. No. 31-13 at 2). The CRB unfairly applied the Title IX Policy's definition of misconduct. See Cloud, 720 F.2d at 725; Coveney, 445 N.E.2d at 138-39. Accepting the allegations in Plaintiff's complaint as true, Plaintiff has alleged sufficient facts to support a finding that the University breached the contract by failing to notify Plaintiff of the misconduct for which he was disciplined. Plaintiff's remaining claims of breach of contract, discussed below, are not legally sufficient to state breach of contract claims.
Despite Plaintiff's statement that "Defendants undertook an investigation," Plaintiff alleges that the University was in breach of the contract by failing to adequately investigate Loe's complaint (Dkt. No. 22 ¶¶ 11, 286). The Handbooks and the Title IX Policy required the University to investigate a complaint of sexual misconduct (Dkt. No. 1-2 at 42; Dkt. No. 1-3 at 44; Dkt. No. 1-6 at 8). According to the Title IX Policy, "[p]rior to any hearings,
Plaintiff further alleges that the University deprived him of his right to "an effective advisor" in breach of the Handbooks' provision (Dkt. No. 22 ¶ 286). The 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 Handbooks permitted a student, such as Plaintiff, to "seek assistance from an advisor of the student's choice, provided that the advisor is a member of the University community (current student, faculty member, or staff member) and is not legal counsel acting in this capacity" (Dkt. No. 1-2 at 44; Dkt. No. 1-3 at 45). "Parents, legal guardians, and/or legal counsel, regardless of their affiliation with complainants, respondents, and/or witnesses, are not permitted to attend any part of the process, pre-hearing or hearing" (Dkt. No. 1-2 at 44; Dkt. No. 1-3 at 46). Under the Title IX Policy, in cases other than those in which a student was the respondent, an attorney was allowed to act as the respondent's advisor (Dkt. No. 1-6 at 8, 9). The attorney was not permitted to act "as legal counsel or advocate," but could "observe and consult freely" with the respondent (Dkt. No. 1-6 at 9). Although Plaintiff, a student-respondent, was not entitled to an attorney as an advisor under the terms of the Handbooks and Title IX Policy, Plaintiff's Complaint alleges that his legal counsel was present in the capacity of advisor at every stage of the process (Dkt. No. 22 ¶¶ 116-120, 122, 189, 204, 234, 248).
Plaintiff contends that provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) incorporated in the Handbooks, along with separate provisions of the Handbooks, entitled him to receive copies of all of the records that were compiled during the investigation (Dkt. No. 22 ¶¶ 12, 208, 340, 341, 349).
The section of the 2014-2015 Handbook that discusses "Student Records and Confidentiality," states that the University "adheres to a policy of compliance with.... FERPA" (Dkt. No. 1-3 at 29). See 20 U.S.C. § 1232g. FERPA "permits students to inspect their educational records,
In addition to the inspection and review of records that FERPA provided, the University permitted students to obtain copies of their records by paying reproduction costs (Dkt. No. 1-3 at 30). However, "[t]he University reserve[d] the right to deny copies of transcripts or educational records... where there is an unresolved disciplinary action against the student" (id.).
By letter of July 6, 2015, Plaintiff's attorney, on behalf of Plaintiff, requested copies of any records that were related to the investigation and disciplinary proceedings (Dkt. No. 1-1 at 3). Plaintiff was not provided copies due to the "unresolved disciplinary action" (Dkt. No. 1-3 at 30; Dkt. No. 33 at 34). He had access, however, to the investigatory materials in the University's possession, including Loe's statement to Ollson and the substance of witnesses' statements (see, e.g., Dkt. No. 22 ¶¶ 59-61, 94-115, 121, 138-161, 210, 229-233). His counsel took notes (id.). Contrast Brandeis, 177 F.Supp.3d at 598-99 (finding that the student's complaint stated a breach of contract claim upon which relief could be granted where the pleadings were unclear regarding whether the university provided the student access to a special examiner's report about his alleged sexual misconduct, as FERPA required); Brown Univ., 166 F.Supp.3d at 193 (finding plaintiff's allegation sufficient to state a claim for breach of contract where the handbook provided that "`the case administrator will respond' to the respondent's requests for information," and the university failed to comply); Dempsey v. Bucknell Univ., Civil Action No. 4:11-cv-1679, 2012 WL 1569826, at *18-19 (M.D. Pa. May 3, 2012) (holding that plaintiff alleged sufficient facts to support a finding that the university breached the provision of the student handbook that promised "that Bucknell will provide the accused with a copy of the charges against him, along with supporting information, including the public safety department's report and witness statements").
Although Plaintiff had the opportunity to view certain photographs and text messages and to hear audio messages between Loe and other students, FERPA did not require the University to grant Plaintiff access (Dkt. No. 22 ¶¶ 209-210). These were not Plaintiff's "educational records" because they did not "directly relate[]" to him. 20 U.S.C. § 1232g(a)(4)(A). See also 20 U.S.C. § 1232g(a)(1)(A), (d) ("If any material or document in the education
The case upon which Plaintiff relies, United States v. Miami Univ., 294 F.3d 797 (6th Cir. 2002), does not require a different result (Dkt. No. 36 at 9). Although Miami Univ. indicates that "disciplinary records" are "educational records" under FERPA, Defendant does not dispute that fact. Id. at 812. The case, however, does not support Plaintiff's contention that FERPA requires a university to provide copies of such records, as opposed to access (Dkt. No. 36 at 9). Id. at 812-15.
The allegations in Plaintiff's Complaint do not support a breach of contract claim based on the University's duty to provide Plaintiff access to records.
Plaintiff alleges that the University breached its "guarantee" that his favorable fact witnesses would be allowed to testify at the hearing (Dkt. No. 22 ¶ 286). Defendant counters that no such promises were made by the Handbook or by the University's general counsel in her e-mail exchanges with Plaintiff's counsel (Dkt. No. 33 at 17-18). Defendant's argument is persuasive.
The 2015-2016 Handbook explicitly gave Plaintiff notice that it was his responsibility to provide "a list of witnesses ... requested to attend [the] hearing" and that "a failure of one or more of these person(s) to attend would not delay the hearing itself" (Dkt. No. 1-2 at 43). Further, according to the Handbook:
(Dkt. No. 1-2 at 44). These admonitions were repeated in the Pre-hearing Informational Meeting form and in the letter that advised Plaintiff of the hearing date (Dkt. No. 13-8 at 3; Dkt. No. 13-9 at 2). In view of the Handbook's terms, Plaintiff could not have reasonably expected the University to secure the attendance of his witnesses.
Plaintiff's assertion that the University's general counsel promised that his witnesses would be present verges on frivolous (Dkt. No. 22 ¶¶ 218-222, 227-233; Dkt. No. 31-10). The October 26, 2015 hearing notice to Plaintiff stated:
(Dkt. No. 31-9 at 2).
On the following day, Plaintiff's counsel contacted the University's general counsel by e-mail to inquire whether the general counsel represented University employees whom Plaintiff planned to call as witnesses (Dkt. No. 31-10 at 4). If so, the message continued, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court's Rules of Professional Conduct prohibited Plaintiff's counsel's communication with them without the University's general counsel's consent (id.). Plaintiff's counsel's message stated: "[I]f you do represent these individuals, please assure me that all of the [WNEU] employees who are on [Plaintiff's] witness list will be present and available to testify throughout the course of the hearing...." (id.). The University's general counsel responded by e-mail the next day (Dkt. No. 31-10 at 3). She notified Plaintiff's counsel
The communications from the University, including the 2015-2016 Handbook, clearly notified Plaintiff of his responsibility to secure the attendance of his witnesses (Dkt. No. 1-2 at 43; Dkt. No. 31-8 at 3; Dkt. No. 31-9 at 2). The University's general counsel's e-mail message did not promise that Plaintiff's witnesses would be present, and, in any event, did not alter Plaintiff's obligation. Cf. Coffin v. Bowater Inc., 501 F.3d 80, 98 (1st Cir. 2007) ("`Extrinsic evidence should not be used to add terms to a contract that is plausibly complete without them'") (quoting Bidlack v. Wheelabrator Corp., 993 F.2d 603, 608 (7th Cir. 1993) (en banc)). Plaintiff does not allege or show that the University had subpoena power or the authority to compel witnesses' appearances at a disciplinary hearing. Because Plaintiff is not an attorney, the Rules of Professional Conduct did not prevent him from communicating with any University administrator he wanted to call as a witness.
In an effort to show the harm caused by this purported "profound procedural failure," the Complaint summarizes the testimony that five proposed witnesses would have offered if they had attended the hearing (Dkt. No. 22 ¶¶ 229-233).
Plaintiff argues that the CRB failed to correctly apply the "presumption of innocence, the burdens of proof and production, or the standards of proof" (Dkt. No. 36 at 12). "His contention that the board failed to use the appropriate standard[s] is a legal conclusion, not a factual allegation." Schaer, 735 N.E.2d at 378-79. As such, the court is entitled to disregard it. See Ocasio-Hernandez v. Fortuño-Burset, 640 F.3d 1, 12 (1st Cir. 2011). A student at a private university is not afforded the same procedural protections that apply to a criminal defendant. See Schaer, 735 N.E.2d at 381. The Title IX Policy required the CRB to apply the "more likely than not" standard to the totality of the evidence that they considered (Dkt. No. 1-6 at 10; Dkt. No. 31-13 at 2-3). Because the CRB complied, the University did not breach its obligations under the terms of the contract.
In addition, Plaintiff fails to point to facts that would support his allegation that he was assigned the burdens of proof and production, which rendered the hearing unfair. See Cloud, 720 F.2d at 725; Schaer, 735 N.E.2d at 380. WNEU's general counsel's alleged statement at the pre-hearing informational meeting in October 2015 that Plaintiff "was in the predicament he was in because [he] had `failed to come forward' to provide his own statement about what had happened," merely stated the obvious: after Loe's initial complaint to Ollson, Plaintiff refused to relate his version of events to Kenneally and Hill, and the investigation ensued, which led to allegations of violations of the Student Code of Conduct (Dkt. No. 22 ¶¶ 46, 95, 122, 136, 191; Dkt. No. 31-8 at 2; Dkt. No. 33 at 22). In addition, general counsel was not a member of the CRB who determined Plaintiff's responsibility for sexual misconduct (Dkt. No. 31-13 at 3).
Notwithstanding discrepancies in Doe's statements about her encounter with Plaintiff, there was an evidentiary basis for the CRB's decision. Plaintiff's disagreement with that decision does not constitute a claim upon which relief can be granted due to the absence of "basic fairness." Schaer, 735 N.E.2d at 380 (quoting Cloud, 720 F.2d at 725).
In summary, to the extent that Count I alleges a breach of contract based on the University's retroactive application of its Title IX Policy and its failure to notify Plaintiff of the charges against him, the court recommends that Defendants' motion to dismiss Count I be denied. As to the other allegations, the court recommends that the breach of contract count be dismissed.
Count II alleges that the University breached the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing by failing to follow the Handbook's policies and procedures and by conducting an "unfair and biased" investigation and "adjudication" (Dkt. No. 22 ¶¶ 288-291). "The covenant of good faith and fair dealing is implied in every contract." Uno Rests., Inc. v. Bos. Kenmore Realty Corp., 441 Mass. 376, 805 N.E.2d 957, 964 (2004). "The duty of good faith and fair dealing concerns the manner of performance." Id. "The covenant may
The allegations of the Complaint are sufficient to state a breach of the implied covenant regarding WNEU's retroactive application of its Title IX Policy. Plaintiff reasonably expected that he would be required to conform his behavior to the standards of conduct in the 2014-2015 Handbook and would face sanctions if he violated these standards (Dkt. No. 22 ¶¶ 68-85). After he received notice of the provisions of the Student Code of Conduct that he was alleged to have violated, he reasonably expected that the University's CRB would measure his behavior against those standards (Dkt. No. 22 ¶ 191). The University breached Plaintiff's reasonable expectations when the CRB applied the Title IX Policy's definitions of sexual misconduct, which had not been released to the student community at the time of the alleged sexual assault. Compare Brown Univ., 166 F.Supp.3d at 196 ("Because [plaintiff's] [c]omplaint states a plausible claim for breach of contract, ... the [c]ourt finds that he similarly states a claim that this conduct violated the covenant of good faith and fair dealing inherent in that contract").
Plaintiff, however, has failed to allege sufficient facts to demonstrate that the University failed to "conform[] to the parties' reasonable understanding of performance obligations, as reflected in the overall spirit of the bargain ..." in any other respect. Brandeis, 177 F.Supp.3d at 612. Plaintiff has not alleged facts from which an inference could be drawn that the University violated its other obligations in the Handbooks or the Title IX Policy or that it conducted the disciplinary procedures arbitrarily or capriciously or in bad faith. See Coveney, 445 N.E.2d at 139.
Accordingly, the court recommends that Defendants' motion to dismiss Count II be denied to the extent that it alleges a breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing based on the University's retroactive application of its Title IX Policy and its failure to notify Plaintiff of the charges against him. As to the other allegations, the court recommends that Count II be dismissed.
Plaintiff's claim for promissory estoppel alleges that he relied to his detriment on the University's "express and implied promises and representations" that were contained in the 2014-2015 Handbook "and elsewhere" (Dkt. No. 22 ¶¶ 292-297). "Generally, the doctrine of promissory estoppel is applicable when a promise has been made, but there is no tangible consideration offered in return; instead, detrimental reliance acts as a substitute for actual consideration." In re JPMorgan Chase Mortg. Modification Litig., 880 F.Supp.2d 220, 238 (D. Mass. 2012) (citing Restatement (Second) of Contracts § 2 (Am. Law Inst. 1981)). "It is well-established that recovery under a quasi-contract theory is not available where there is a written contract governing the same subject matter." Brandeis, 177 F.Supp.3d at 612. Here, "there is no dispute that the student-university relationship is governed
Plaintiff argues that he detrimentally relied upon the University's general counsel's representation that "all his witnesses would attend his hearing" (Dkt. No. 36 at 16).
Aston Martin Lagonda of N. Am., Inc. v. Lotus Motorsports, Inc., Civil Action No. 13-cv-11213, 2014 WL 1092864, at *6 (D. Mass. Mar. 18, 2014) (quoting Neuhoff v. Marvin Lumber & Cedar Co., 370 F.3d 197, 203 (1st Cir. 2004)). Plaintiff's Complaint is wholly deficient in these respects. General counsel's statement was not an "unambiguous promise" to secure the attendance of Plaintiff's witnesses. Id. Even if this were a reasonable interpretation of the comment, Plaintiff has not alleged "action or forbearance" due to his reliance. Id. In other words, he does not state that, but for general counsel's statement, he would have secured the presence of his witnesses. Further, due to the CRB's discretion regarding witnesses and their testimony, Plaintiff cannot plead sufficient facts to demonstrate that the failure to enforce general counsel's promise resulted in injustice. See id.
The court recommends dismissal of the promissory estoppel claim (Count III).
Plaintiff alleges that the University breached its common law duty to afford him a fair process (Dkt. No. 22 ¶¶ 286, 302-305).
The University's "obligation to provide basic fairness in its proceedings is separate from and in addition to its contractual obligation to follow the rules it set forth in the Handbook." Brandeis, 177 F.Supp.3d at 600. See Cloud, 720 F.2d at 725; Schaer, 735 N.E.2d at 380. Notwithstanding this court's obligation to consider fairness, "`[c]ourts are chary about interfering with academic and disciplinary decisions made by private colleges and universities.'" Schaer, 735 N.E.2d at 381 (quoting Schaer v. Brandeis Univ., 48 Mass.App.Ct. 23, 716 N.E.2d 1055, 1060 (1999)). "`If school officials act in good faith and on reasonable grounds ... their decision to suspend or expel a student will not be subject to successful challenge in the courts.'" Cloud, 720 F.2d at 724 (quoting Coveney, 445 N.E.2d at 139). "A university is not required to adhere to the standards of due process guaranteed to criminal defendants or to abide by rules of evidence adopted by courts." Schaer, 735 N.E.2d at 381.
In Brandeis, 177 F.Supp.3d at 561, another session of this court concluded that Brandeis had violated its duty to conduct a
Here, the allegations in the Complaint show that the investigation was conducted by two Title IX investigators, Kenneally and Hill, who were not members of the CRB, that Plaintiff had access to investigatory materials and the names of witnesses prior to the hearing, that the two-member CRB, Burke and Elfant, determined responsibility after a hearing, which Plaintiff and his counsel attended and in which Plaintiff participated, and that Plaintiff received a copy of the CRB's written decision, which he used to pursue his appeal (See, e.g., Dkt. No. 22 ¶¶ 22, 59-61, 91, 94-115, 121, 127, 138-161, 165-173, 195-196, 203-210; 229-234, 255; Dkt. No. 31-2 at 3; Dkt. No. 31-13). WNEU's 2015-2016 Handbook set out the rules for the hearing, including Plaintiff's opportunity to submit a written statement, "to hear all witness statements, to present relevant evidence, and to direct questions to the hearing board ..." (Dkt. No. 1-2 at 44). The CRB's decision was subject to review by Hart-Steffes, who had the authority to overturn the CRB's decision (Dkt. No. 1-2 at 45). These procedures, which were followed in Plaintiff's case, make Brandeis clearly distinguishable.
Plaintiff calls attention to the pre-hearing statements of Hendricks and Ollson in an effort to demonstrate WNEU's bias against him. He points to Ollson's comment that Plaintiff "should be the one to request [no contact] measures" (Dkt. No. 22 ¶ 184; Dkt. No. 31-7 at 2).
Plaintiff plows the same ground regarding the University's failure to provide him with copies of the investigative materials and claims that he first learned of Loe's "exculpatory text messages" at the hearing (Dkt. No. 22 ¶¶ 15, 245-246; Dkt. No. 36
Plaintiff also alleges that the hearing officers demonstrated their "blatant hostility" toward him by failing to challenge Loe's "lies [and] inconsistent statements" (Dkt. No. 36 at 10-11). In effect, he claims that the CRB's decision to credit Loe's testimony can sufficiently demonstrate bias and an unfair process. But "[i]t is not the business of lawyers and judges to tell universities what statements they may consider and what statements they must reject." Schaer, 735 N.E.2d at 380. See also Doe v. Univ. of the S., 687 F.Supp.2d 744, 755 (E.D. Tenn. 2009) (quoting Gomes v. Univ. of Me. Sys., 365 F.Supp.2d 6, 14 (D. Me. 2005)); Coveney, 445 N.E.2d 138-39.
Plaintiff's related contention that the proceedings were unfair due to the University's denial of his ability to cross-examine Loe and other witnesses at the hearing similarly fails (Dkt. No. 36 at 17; Dkt. No. 52 at 4). See Schaer, 735 N.E.2d at 381. "[A]ny claim of unfairness due to a requirement that questions be asked through the panel [c]hair fails as a matter of law." Yu v. Vassar Coll., 97 F.Supp.3d 448, 465 (S.D.N.Y. 2015). "Courts have found that similar procedures are procedurally adequate." Id. (citing Donohue v. Baker, 976 F.Supp. 136, 147 (N.D.N.Y 1997)). Plaintiff was present at the hearing with his counsel and was permitted to direct questions to the CRB members who had discretion to hear evidence that they deemed to be "reliable and relevant" (Dkt. No. 1-2 at 44; Dkt. No. 22 ¶¶ 22, 249-253). Contrast Brandeis, 177 F.Supp.3d at 583-84, 603-05 (the disciplinary process did not include a hearing during which the respondent proposed questions and heard the complainant and witnesses).
Plaintiff further asserts that Burke, who was one of the two hearing officers, had a conflict of interest because the investigation and the hearing were controlled by his supervisors, Ollson and Hill who, according to Plaintiff, were predisposed to find him responsible (Dkt. No. 22 ¶¶ 24, 237-244). Because there was no Handbook provision that addressed potential conflicts of interest, the court considers whether the contention represents a valid claim that the proceeding failed to comport with standards of basic fairness. See Cloud, 720 F.2d at 725; Schaer, 735 N.E.2d at 380. Compare Bleiler, 2013 WL 4714340, at *15
"In the intimate setting of a college or university, prior contact between the participants is likely and does not per se indicate bias or partiality." Gorman v. Univ. of R. I., 837 F.2d 7, 15 (1st Cir. 1988). "Generally the alleged bias of the disciplinary board must be evident from the record and not based on inference and speculation." Doe v. Univ. of Cincinnati, 173 F.Supp.3d 586, 600 (S.D. Ohio 2016). Even accepting as true Plaintiff's allegations that Ollson's and Hill's pre-hearing statements demonstrated their bias against Plaintiff, that Ollson supervised the investigation and Hill's report, and that Hill presented the University's case against Plaintiff at the hearing, Plaintiff's claim that Ollson and Hill influenced Burke, their subordinate, is speculative. This bald assertion is not legally sufficient to sustain a claim for relief. See Ikpeazu v. Univ. of Neb., 775 F.2d 250, 254 (8th Cir. 1985) (holding that a school's disciplinary body "is entitled to a presumption of honesty and integrity absent a showing of actual bias such as animosity, prejudice, or a personal or financial stake in the outcome can be proven"); Univ. of the S., 687 F.Supp.2d at 751 ("a court is not required to accept conclusory legal allegations cast in the form of factual allegations if those conclusions cannot reasonably be drawn from the facts alleged") (citing Twombly, 550 U.S. at 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955); Bleiler, 2013 WL 4714340, at *13 ("`alleged prejudice of university hearing bodies must be based upon more than mere speculation and tenuous inferences'") (quoting Buckholz v. Mass. Inst. of Tech., No. 85-2720, 1993 WL 818618, at *3 (Mass. Super. Ct. July 6, 1993)). Moreover, Burke was not the sole hearing officer. Elfant, the second hearing officer, also found Plaintiff responsible (Dkt. No. 31-13 at 3). Plaintiff does not allege any facts which would lead to an inference of conflict on Elfant's part. In addition, the CRB's decision was reviewed by Hart-Steffes, who found that Elfant and Burke followed the University's "process and procedures exactly as they should" and affirmed their decision, but modified the sanction (Dkt. No. 31-14 at 5). Again, Plaintiff has not alleged that Hart-Steffes labored under a conflict of interest.
Plaintiff's final allegation — that the appeal process was unfair because he could not seek review on the ground that the CRB's decision was not supported by the evidence — is similarly deficient (Dkt. No. 52 at 4).
Because Plaintiff fails to state a claim of basic procedural unfairness, the court recommends that Count V be dismissed.
Count V asserts a claim for IIED against all Defendants (Dkt. No. 22 ¶¶ 310-315).
Brandeis, 177 F.Supp.3d at 616 (citing Agis v. Howard Johnson Co., 371 Mass. 140, 355 N.E.2d 315, 318-19 (1976)).
"Conduct is `extreme and outrageous' only if it is `so outrageous in character, and so extreme in degree, as to go beyond all possible bounds of decency, and to be regarded as atrocious, and utterly intolerable in a civilized community.'" Id. (quoting Foley v. Polaroid Corp., 400 Mass. 82, 508 N.E.2d 72, 82 (1987)) (quoting Restatement (Second) of Torts § 46 cmt. d (Am. Law Inst. 1965)). WNEU's actions, as pled, do not rise to the requisite level of atrocity. See Fellheimer, 869 F.Supp. at 247 (holding that the college's decision to conduct a process to determine a male student's responsibility for alleged sexual misconduct was not "extreme or outrageous" despite the college's failure to provide the student with adequate notice of his alleged misconduct); Brandeis, 177 F.Supp.3d at 616 (holding that despite the unfairness and unreasonableness of the university's actions, the facts in the complaint did not constitute the sort of "targeted, deliberate, and malicious conduct that is required for an IIED claim"); Harris v. St. Joseph's Univ., Civil Action No. 13-3937, 2014 WL 1910242, at *11-12 (E.D. Pa. May 13, 2014) (holding that facts alleged in the amended complaint "fail[ed] to satisfy the requisite outrageous conduct for such a claim" despite allegations that plaintiff was falsely portrayed as a "`cruel sex offender'"). The court recommends that Count VII be dismissed for failure to state a claim.
Plaintiff alleges that the University's disciplinary action was erroneous and was motivated by gender bias in violation of Title IX (Dkt. No. 22 ¶¶ 352-379). See Yusuf v. Vassar Coll., 35 F.3d 709, 715 (2d Cir. 1994); Marshall v. Ohio Univ., No. 2:15-cv-775, 2015 WL 1179955, at *7 (S.D. Ohio Mar. 13, 2015). "Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a federal statute designed to prevent sexual discrimination and harassment in educational institutions receiving federal funding." Marshall v. Ohio Univ., 2015 WL 1179955, at *7. Title IX provides, in pertinent part, that "[n]o person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving
"In Yusuf, the Second Circuit developed a framework for [the analysis of] cases attacking university disciplinary proceedings on the ground of gender bias, which `fall generally within two categories' — `erroneous outcome' and `selective enforcement.'" Id. (quoting Yusuf, 35 F.3d at 715).
"In ... `erroneous outcome' cases, the claim is that the plaintiff was innocent and wrongly found to have committed an offense.'" Brown Univ., 166 F.Supp.3d at 184 (quoting Yusuf, 35 F.3d at 715).
Doe v. Salisbury Univ., 123 F.Supp.3d 748, 766 (D. Md. 2015) (quoting Yusuf, 35 F.3d at 715). See also Sahm v. Miami Univ., 110 F.Supp.3d 774, 778 (S.D. Ohio 2015); Brown Univ., 166 F.Supp.3d at 184; Bleiler, 2013 WL 4714340, at *5 ("Under the `erroneous outcome' standard, the question is whether the [c]ollege's actions are `motivated by sexual bias' or if the `disciplinary hearing process constitutes a "pattern of decision-making" whereby the [college's] disciplinary procedures governing sexual assault claims is "discriminatorily applied or motivated by a chauvinistic view of the sexes"'") (quoting Univ. of the S., 687 F.Supp.2d at 756).
"[A]llegations of a procedurally or otherwise flawed proceeding that has led to an adverse and erroneous outcome combined with a conclusory allegation of gender discrimination is not sufficient to survive a motion to dismiss." Yusuf, 35 F.3d at 715. Plaintiff asserts that Ollson, the Title IX officer who oversaw the investigation, and Hill, one of the Title IX investigators, were biased against males and that they influenced their subordinate, Burke, one of the two hearing officers who found Plaintiff responsible for sexual misconduct (Dkt. No. 22 ¶¶ 178-180, 239-243; Dkt. No. 36 at 18-19). But Plaintiff fails to allege particularized facts that would permit a factfinder to draw the reasonable inference that gender discrimination was a motivating factor behind the CRB's decision. See Prouty v. Hartford Life & Acc. Ins. Co., 997 F.Supp.2d 85, 88 (D. Mass. 2014) ("even accepting a complaint's factual allegations, together they must establish, directly or by reasonable inference, each element required to support recovery under some actionable legal theory") (citing Centro Medico del Turabo, Inc. v. Feliciano de Melecio, 406 F.3d 1, 6 (1st Cir. 2005)); Brown Univ., 166 F.Supp.3d at 184.
Plaintiff relies on his allegations about Ollson's and Hill's words and demeanor to demonstrate gender bias. See Yusuf, 35 F.3d at 715. Plaintiff reprises his argument that Ollson "refused to offer [Plaintiff] the same accommodations as offered to ... Loe" (Dkt. No. 22 ¶¶ 24, 184, 377; Dkt. No 36 at 18; Dkt. No. 31-7 at 2) (emphasis original). Plaintiff, however, does not allege disparate treatment; that is, that he requested protection from contact with Loe, and that Ollson, or anyone, denied it.
Plaintiff's attempt to demonstrate Hill's gender bias also falls far short of being sufficient. He avers that Hill's "bullying" of him during his initial interview demonstrated her bias against males (Dkt. No. 22 ¶¶ 132-135; Dkt. No. 36 at 10). Plaintiff's initial interview was delayed due to "the time it was taking for [Plaintiff's counsel] to copy [Loe's] lengthy [initial] interview summary by hand" (Dkt. No. 22 ¶ 132). Hill "yelled" at Plaintiff and "insist[ed] that [he] had to immediately start answering her questions" (id.). Viewing Hill's behavior in the light most favorable to Plaintiff does not raise a reasonable inference of gender bias. See Nisselson v. Lemont, 469 F.3d 143, 150 (1st Cir. 2006). Compare Sahm, 110 F.Supp.3d at 778-79 (holding that bias against students accused of sexual
Plaintiff "asserts no facts to suggest that [the University's administrators] would have treated a female accused of sexual assault any differently ... or that the University would have acted differently in a disciplinary procedure against a female accused of sexual assault." Sahm, 110 F.Supp.3d at 779. Burke's alleged bias is not supported by "any of the[] traditional means of demonstrating gender bias." Id. at 778. Instead, Plaintiff relies on legal conclusions, which the court is counseled to ignore (Dkt. No. 22 ¶ 244). See Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937. Absent from the Complaint are statements by Burke, or Elfant, the other member of the CRB, or any other pertinent University employee that indicate gender discrimination (Dkt. No. 31-13 at 2-3). See Yusuf, 35 F.3d at 715; Sahm, 110 F.Supp.3d at 778. In addition, Plaintiff has neither alleged nor established a pattern of biased decision making by WNEU. See Yusuf, 35 F.3d at 715. "[O]ne case by an individual who was subjectively dissatisfied with the result [of a disciplinary proceeding] does not constitute `a pattern of decision-making' ...." Mallory, 76 Fed.Appx. at 640 (quoting Yusuf, 35 F.3d at 715). Without any facts to support Plaintiff's assertions that Ollson and Hill were biased against males and that they influenced Burke, or that discrimination against males motivated the CRB's decision, Plaintiff fails to state a viable claim for relief.
In cases in which courts have denied motions to dismiss Title IX claims, plaintiffs alleged facts in the form of specific statements or patterns of conduct which plausibly suggested that gender bias motivated erroneous findings that male plaintiffs were responsible for sexual misconduct. See Yusuf, 35 F.3d at 715. For example, in Prasad v. Cornell Univ., Civil Action No. 5:15-cv-322, 2016 WL 3212079 (N.D.N.Y. Feb. 24, 2016), the plaintiff alleged that "an Investigative Report ... misconstrued and slanted the evidence against [him]," that there was "a drastic turnaround" in one investigator's position, and that "a gender stereotype adverse to males charged with sexual assaults existed at Cornell causing such disciplinary proceedings to `invariably' end adversely to male respondents." Id. at *16-17.
Similarly, in Brown Univ., 166 F.Supp.3d at 177, plaintiff's complaint included "specific allegations related to [the university's] gender bias as opposed to
This case falls on the side of those in which Title IX claims were dismissed for failure to plead sufficient particularized factual allegations to support a "causal connection" between gender bias and the erroneous finding of responsibility for sexual misconduct. Yusuf, 35 F.3d at 715. See Sahm, 110 F.Supp.3d at 778-80 (dismissing plaintiff's Title IX claim because the complaint failed to allege any statements of members of the disciplinary body or university officials or any patterns of conduct that permitted the court to infer bias against male students); Univ. of Mass.-Amherst, 2015 WL 4306521, at *8 (dismissing plaintiff's Title IX claim because he failed to cite any statements that plausibly suggested the university's gender bias and because his unsupported claim that the university discriminated against males accused of sexual misconduct was insufficient); Harris, 2014 WL 1910242, at *4 (E.D. Pa. May 13, 2014) (dismissing plaintiff's Title IX claim due to his failure to allege sufficient facts to support his claim that gender bias was a motivating factor in the university's decision); see also King v. DePauw Univ., Cause No. 2:14-cv-70-WTL-DKL, 2014 WL 4197507, at *10 (S.D. Ind. Aug. 22, 2014) (denying plaintiff's motion for a preliminary injunction based on an alleged violation of Title IX due to the absence of any evidence that "plaintiff's
Although the Complaint adequately alleges an erroneous outcome due to the retroactive application of the Title IX Policy, Plaintiff fails to allege sufficient facts to demonstrate that the University's disciplinary decision was motivated by gender bias. See Yusuf, 35 F.3d at 715. The court acknowledges that questions of motive and intent generally are matters reserved for trial. See e.g., Scooter Store, Inc. v. SpinLife.com, L.L.C., 777 F.Supp.2d 1102, 1118 (S.D. Ohio 2011) (holding that when "[m]otive and intent are at issue, ... courts hesitate to grant motions to dismiss before the parties have an opportunity for discovery"). Nonetheless, Plaintiff had an obligation to plead sufficient facts from which an inference of gender bias could be drawn, and he has failed to do so.
Accordingly, the court recommends that Count XI be dismissed.
Plaintiff seeks to reverse the sanction and nullify the University's disciplinary process under the Federal Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2201 (Dkt. No. 22 ¶¶ 380-384). Defendants argue that this count should be dismissed because of the alleged deficiencies in all of Plaintiff's substantive claims (Dkt. No. 33 at 38). "[T]he Declaratory Judgment Act does not create its own substantive cause of action." Brown Univ., 166 F.Supp.3d at 196. Because the court recommends the denial of the motion to dismiss the claims for breach of contract and breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing based on the University's retroactive application of the Title IX Policy and failure to adequately notify Plaintiff of the allegations against him, Plaintiff "continues to state a claim for declaratory relief." Id. Accordingly, the court recommends that Defendants' motion to dismiss Plaintiff's request for declaratory relief (Count XIII) be denied.
For the foregoing reasons, the undersigned recommends that Defendants' Motion to Dismiss (Dkt. No. 30) be allowed as to Counts III (estoppel and reliance), IV (unjust enrichment), V (breach of the common law duty of basic fairness), VI (negligence), VII (IIED), VIII (tortious interference with advantageous business relations), IX (violations of the Clery Act and regulations), X (violation of FERPA), and XI (violation of Title IX), be denied as to so much of Count I and Count II as allege a breach of contract and a breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing based on the University's retroactive application of the Title IX Policy and failure to adequately notify Plaintiff of the allegations against him, and be denied as to Count XIII (declaratory judgment).
(Dkt. No. 1-2 at 45).
Id. at 187. However, the discussion in Brown arose in the context of whether Plaintiff's complaint contained a viable claim under Title IX, which would entitle him to discovery, not whether the failure to provide copies of investigatory materials prior to a disciplinary hearing constituted basic unfairness. See id.
