On August 21, 2019, a federal judge ruled that it’s “plausible” Michigan State University concealed sexual assault allegations brought against student athletes, and allowed its athletic department to deal with these allegations independent of the standard university process, the Detroit Free Press reports.

In his ruling, Judge Paul Maloney argued

The Court finds that the allegations in Plaintiff’s complaint render plausible her claim that MSU maintained official policies that left her and other female students vulnerable to sexual assault by male athletes.

According to the Free Press, the complaint was filed by former student Bailey Kowalski, who claims to have been sexually assaulted by multiple MSU basketball players. When Kowalski visited the MSU Counseling Center following the incident, the Free Press states, the staff allegedly discouraged her from reporting the athletes.

The Free Press further reports that Kowalski originally names herself “Jane Doe” in her lawsuit, but later decided to speak up during a news conference in April. According to Kowalski

If I didn’t (speak out), I would be neglecting other victims and leaving them behind… Knowing I can be there for somebody right now, knowing there are women and men who exist as survivors, I look forward to being their support system if they do not have one.

If you have been a victim of sexual assault, you may have the option to file a Sexual Assault Civil Lawsuit. The lawyers at our firm are happy to provide you with a free and confidential evaluation of your claims. While we cannot take away what you’ve already been through, we can work hard to get you the recovery you deserve.

About Gibbs Law Group

Gibbs Law Group is a California-based law firm committed to protecting the rights of clients nationwide who have been harmed by corporate misconduct. We represent individuals, whistleblowers, employees, and small businesses across the U.S. against the world’s largest corporations. Our award-winning lawyers have achieved landmark recoveries and over a billion dollars for our clients in high-stakes class action and individual cases involving consumer protection, data breach, digital privacy, and federal and California employment lawsuits. Our attorneys have received numerous honors for their work, including “Top Plaintiff Lawyers in California,” “Top Class Action Attorneys Under 40,” “Consumer Protection MVP,” “Best Lawyers in America,” and “Top Cybersecurity/ Privacy Attorneys Under 40.”