NEW ORLEANS – A former Loyola University New Orleans student recently filed a federal suit against the college after he was suspended by the school following accusations of sexual assault involving another student and alleged violations of the school's code of conduct policy.
Jerome Broussard filed the complaint July 20 against Loyola in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, stating the allegations against him were completely false. He added that because of the allegations and Loyola’s decision that he was liable, he has suffered several damages that include not being able to continue his education at Loyola, resulting in a loss of $90,000 in paid tuition; a permanent sexual assault mark on his educational records; and injuries concerning his future education and any potential careers. The accuser was an individual Broussard previously had a relationship with, the filing said.
Broussard's suit claims Loyola and its board of trustees didn’t carry out a full and precise investigation and failed to give him a proper notice of the charges as he wasn’t told about the charges until approximately three months after the accuser filed her complaint.
The suit also said Loyola had a gender bias against him because he is a male and failed to carry out a timely investigation. Broussard also said the defendants took each party's testimony as truth and didn’t take into account new evidence Broussard presented. The suit claims defendants failed to give him vital information ahead of the hearing and didn’t give him a rationale for their ultimate decision that he was responsible for the assault. Broussard's suit also accused the defendants of not allowing him the innocent until proven guilty stance when they took disciplinary action against him.
The suit claims Loyola denied Broussard’s due process rights under the 14th Amendment when it launched an investigation against him and suspended him. He also said the school infringed on its rights when it performed the accusations mentioned above like holding a gender bias against him.
The suit also claims an alleged violation of the Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. He said the school and other defendants violated his rights when it failed “to prevent or remedy sexual harassment or sexual assault or by the imposition of university discipline where gender is a motivating factor in the decision to discipline,” according to the lawsuit.
The suit also claimed the school didn't perform a fair and impartial process as well as an unbiased investigation when it refused to hold a hearing and denied Broussard his right to counsel.
The suit also alleges negligent infliction of emotional distress. Broussard said because of Loyola’s actions, he suffered depression and a decline in his performance at his job.
Broussard requested a trial by jury for the case.