A Princeton University freshman suspended for allegedly assaulting two female friends filed a federal complaint against the Ivy League institution last week, claiming the disciplinary committee has been notoriously prejudicial against such claims brought by women against men.
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Jamie H. Solano, a partner with Ford O’Brien Landy in New York, filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey on behalf of the plaintiff, identified as John Doe. The 79-page complaint alleges claims of breach of contract, gender-based discrimination in violation of 20 U.S.C. §1681, known as Title IX, and negligence in Doe v. The Trustees of Princeton University. Doe claims his disciplinary investigation was “rife with bias and prejudgment,” as Princeton’s Committee on Discipline convicts 98% of students who go through its student conduct process, according to the complaint.
“In 2023, it convicted John Doe, too, and suspended him for two years,” the complaint said. “It did this after two friends, working together, filed separate and false charges against him alleging curiously similar behavior—that he had choked each of them in public, one Jane Roe in the middle of the high traffic public sidewalk, and one Sarah Smith at a crowded party.”
The underlying incidents at issue before the disciplinary committed involved allegations that Doe had choked two women in separate incidents. The first allegedly occurred on March 3, 2023, at a party at one of the university’s eating clubs. Doe alleged that he confronted a fellow student, Sarah Smith, at that party and exchanged loud words with her, but maintains that he never choked her. The second incident allegedly took place about a month later and involved Jane Roe, who did not attend Princeton, the complaint said.
Doe was charged with violating the university’s policy on personal safety over the alleged incidents and with violating the school’s alcohol policy. Princeton’s Committee on Discipline uses a clear and persuasive standard, but Doe claims the evidence in his case did not meet that standard. His hearing before the committee took place on Nov. 6, 2023.
“But what John didn’t know is that he had at most a 2% chance of prevailing, because he was a respondent appearing before Princeton’s Committee on Discipline,” the complaint said. “And notwithstanding its exacting evidentiary standard, the COD—in more than 700 cases resolved by it in academic year 2021-2022—convicted more than 98% of the respondents who appeared before it.”
“We believe this suit is without merit and will contest it vigorously,” Jennifer Morrill, director of media relations at Princeton, said in an email. “We are confident this situation was handled in accordance with university policy.”
The complaint said that the finding and sanction against Doe were the product of gender bias in violation of Title IX and cited statements and actions of a “biased investigator and hearing panel.” Doe alleged that he was repeatedly questioned more confrontationally than the women, despite numerous contradictions and inconsistencies in their stories.
Doe also alleged that the hearing panel refused his request to pursue exculpatory witnesses. He alleged that female witnesses were pursued on behalf of the women, while male witnesses who could have testified if the women had any signs of bruising were not pursued.
Doe’s complaint alleged breach of contract, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, violation of Title IX, and gross negligence. He seeks relief and requested the court vacate Princeton’s finding that Doe was responsible for the alleged incidents. He also seeks expungement of his record, immediate readmittance to the university, compensatory damages, and attorney costs.
Solano did not immediately return a request for comment.