Doe v. Brandeis University

Filing 49

Judge F. Dennis Saylor, IV: ORDER entered granting in part and denying in part 34 Motion to Dismiss. (Cox, Spencer)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS
____________________________________
)
JOHN DOE,
)
)
Plaintiff,
)
)
Civil Action No.
v.
)
15-11557-FDS
)
BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY,
)
)
Defendant.
)
____________________________________)
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER ON
DEFENDANT’S MOTION TO DISMISS
SAYLOR, J.
This is a civil action arising out of an investigation conducted by a university into alleged
sexual misconduct. Jurisdiction is based on diversity of citizenship.
Plaintiff “John Doe” was an undergraduate student at defendant Brandeis University. For
nearly two years, he and another male Brandeis student, “J.C.,” were engaged in a romantic and
sexual relationship. After they broke up, J.C. alleged that John had engaged in sexual
misconduct during the relationship. The university conducted an investigation and concluded
that John was guilty of sexual misconduct and, among other things, made such a notation in his
permanent educational record.
John has brought suit against Brandeis, asserting causes of action for (1) breach of
contract; (2) breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing; (3) estoppel and
reliance; (4) negligence; (5) defamation; (6) invasion of privacy; (7) intentional infliction of
emotional distress; and (8) negligent infliction of emotional distress.
Brandeis has moved to dismiss all of the claims against it. For the following reasons, the

motion to dismiss will be granted in part and denied in part.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
I.

INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................. 6

II.

FACTUAL BACKGROUND ................................................................................ 13
A.

The Relationship between John and J.C. .................................................... 13

B.

The Accusation against John ..................................................................... 15

C.

Changes to the Handbooks ......................................................................... 16

D.

The Process under the 2011-12 Handbook ................................................. 17

E.

The Process under the 2012-13 Handbook ................................................. 20

F.

The Process under the 2013-14 Handbook ................................................. 21
1.
2.

The Fact-Finding Phase .................................................................. 23

3.

The Discussion Phase ..................................................................... 25

4.

The Responsibility Findings Phase ................................................. 26

5.

The Deliberations Phase ................................................................. 26

6.

The Outcome Notification Phase .................................................... 26

7.

The Appeal Phase ............................................................................ 26

8.
G.

The Statements Phase ..................................................................... 22

Access to Records ........................................................................... 27

Sexual Misconduct Policies under the 2013-14 Handbook ......................... 28
1.

Physical Harm (§ 2.1.d) .................................................................. 28

2.

Invasion of Personal Privacy (§ 2.1.e) ............................................ 29

3.

Sexual Misconduct (§§ 3.1, 3.2, 3.3) .............................................. 29

4.

Sexual Harassment (§ 7.2) .............................................................. 29

H.

The Special Examiner’s Investigation ........................................................ 30

I.

The Reading of the “Summary” ................................................................. 31

J.

The Three-Person Panel and the Sanction .................................................. 32

K.

The Appeal ................................................................................................. 33

L.

The Special Examiner’s Report .................................................................. 33
1.

Allegations Not Sustained by Special Examiner ............................ 34
2

a.
b.

“Pornography Incident” ...................................................... 35

c.

“Text Messaging Incident” ................................................. 35

d.

“Post-Movie Conduct” ....................................................... 35

e.

“Decision to Begin Dating” ................................................ 35

f.

“Post-Shower Conduct” ...................................................... 36

g.

“Mandating that J.C. Sleep Naked” .................................... 36

h.
2.

“Unwanted Touching While Walking” .............................. 34

“Attempts to Have J.C. Perform Oral Sex” ........................ 37

Allegations Sustained by Special Examiner ................................... 37
a.
b.

“Bathroom Incident” .......................................................... 38

c.

“Sexual Conduct While Sleeping” ..................................... 38

d.
3.

“Movie Incident” ................................................................ 37

“Performing Oral Sex on J.C.” ........................................... 39

The Special Examiner’s Conclusions as to the End of the
Relationship and J.C.’s Decision to Bring Charges........................ 41

4.

The Special Examiner’s Credibility Findings ................................ 41

5.

The Special Examiner’s Conclusions ............................................. 43

M.

Subsequent Developments .......................................................................... 44

N.

Recent Changes to the Process ................................................................... 46

III.

PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND ......................................................................... 46

IV.

LEGAL STANDARD ............................................................................................. 46

V.

ANALYSIS ............................................................................................................. 47
A.

Breach of Contract ...................................................................................... 47
1.

“Reasonable Expectation” of the Student ....................................... 48
a.

Elimination of the “Statements Phase” ............................... 48

b.

Elimination of the “Deliberations Phase” ........................... 49

c.

Breach of Express Representation as to Conflicts
of Interest on Appeals Board ............................................... 52

d.

Failure to Use the Hearing Process as Described
in the 2011-12 Handbook .................................................... 53

3

e.

Failure to Use the Hearing Process as to Charges
of Physical Harm and Invasion of Privacy .......................... 55

f.

Failure to Provide a Copy of the Special Examiner’s
Report .................................................................................. 56

g.

Failure to Maintain Confidentiality of Educational
Record ................................................................................. 57

h.
2.

Arbitrary and Capricious Findings ...................................... 59

“Basic Fairness” .............................................................................. 60
a.

Procedural Fairness ............................................................. 63
(1)

No Right to Notice of Charges ................................ 64

(2)

No Right to Counsel ................................................ 65

(3)

No Right to Confront Accuser ................................ 66

(4)

No Right to Cross-Examine Witnesses ................... 67

(5)

No Right to Examine Evidence or
Witness Statements ................................................. 67

(6)

Impairment of Right to Call Witnesses
and Present Evidence............................................... 68

(7)

No Access to Special Examiner’s Report ............... 69

(8)

No Separation of Investigatory, Prosecution,
and Adjudication Functions ..................................... 69

(9)
(10)

Burden of Proof ....................................................... 70

(11)
b.

No Right to Effective Appeal .................................. 70

Conclusion ............................................................... 71

Substantive Fairness ..................................................…….. 72
(1)
(2)

The Significance of the Relationship ...................... 75

(3)

The Significance of J.C.’s Abuse of Alcohol .......... 77

(4)
3.

The Significance of the Delay in Reporting ............ 73

Conclusion .............................................................. 78

Summary of Breach of Contract Claims ......................................... 78

B.

Breach of the Implied Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing .............. 78

C.

Estoppel and Reliance ................................................................................. 80
4

D.

Negligence .................................................................................................. 81
1.

Negligent Retention and Supervision ............................................. 81

2.

Negligent Failure to Prevent Conflict of Interest ............................ 83

3.

Breach of Duty to Maintain Confidentiality of
Educational Record.......................................................................... 84

E.

Defamation .................................................................................................. 84
1.

Defamation Generally ..................................................................... 84

2.

Aiding and Abetting Defamation .................................................... 86

F.
G.

Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress................................................ 87

H.
VI.

Invasion of Privacy ..................................................................................... 87

Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress ................................................. 89

CONCLUSION ....................................................................................................... 89

5

I.

Introduction
This matter arises from a Brandeis University disciplinary proceeding against plaintiff

“John Doe” concerning alleged sexual misconduct. The lawsuit is at a preliminary stage. At this
point of the proceeding, the issue for the Court is not whether John actually engaged in any form
of sexual misconduct; indeed, the Court is in no position to make such a factual determination.
The Court is simply deciding whether John’s claims against Brandeis are sufficiently plausible to
survive a motion to dismiss. However, the parties appear to agree on a wide range of facts,
including the nature of the procedures employed by Brandeis, the manner in which Brandeis
reached its decision, and at least the basic parameters of the relationship between John and J.C.,
his former boyfriend.
John Doe and J.C. entered Brandeis University as freshmen in the fall of 2011. Both
were then approximately 18 years old. In September, they began to have sexual relations. By
October, they considered each other boyfriends, and for the next 21 months they were in a
romantic and sexual relationship. Their friends believed that they were “happy” and
“comfortable” together.
In the summer of 2013, between their sophomore and junior years, J.C. broke up with
John. The two remained friends for about four months, but over time their relationship began to
deteriorate. At some point, J.C. began to abuse alcohol. He also attended two sessions of
university-sponsored “sexual assault training,” which began (in his words) to change his
“thinking” about his relationship with John.
Eventually, in January 2014—two years and four months after they began dating—J.C.
filed a complaint of sexual assault against John with Brandeis. That complaint was two
sentences long. In its entirety, it read as follows:

6

Starting in the month of September, 2011, the Alleged violator of Policy [John]
had numerous inappropriate, nonconsensual sexual interactions with me. These
interactions continued to occur until around May 2013.
Like most universities, Brandeis has a process for addressing claims of student
misconduct. In 2011, when J.C. and John began at Brandeis, that process involved a variety of
steps, including a hearing before a panel of students and administrators to determine whether the
misconduct occurred and to recommend a sanction to the university. Among other things, that
process involved what Brandeis termed a student’s “rights to fairness,” such as the right to call
witnesses and the right to question one’s accuser.
After 2011, however, Brandeis changed its procedures for cases involving alleged sexual
misconduct. It retained its normal processes, including the “rights to fairness,” for handling
matters such as student theft, vandalism, physical violence, hazing, and academic dishonesty. As
to sexual misconduct cases, however, Brandeis removed a variety of protections for accused
students.
By 2014, Brandeis’s policy in sexual misconduct cases had eliminated a hearing of any
kind. Instead, it had instituted a procedure under which a “Special Examiner” was appointed to
conduct an investigation and decide the “responsibility” of the accused. That procedure was
essentially a secret and inquisitorial process. Among other things, under the new procedure,
•

the accused was not entitled to know the details of the charges;

•

the accused was not entitled to see the evidence;

•

the accused was not entitled to counsel;

•

the accused was not entitled to confront and cross-examine the accuser;

•

the accused was not entitled to cross-examine any other witnesses;

•

the Special Examiner prepared a detailed report, which the accused was not

7

permitted to see until the entire process had concluded; and
•

the Special Examiner’s decision as to the “responsibility” (that is, guilt) of the
accused was essentially final, with limited appellate review—among other things,
the decision could not be overturned on the ground that it was incorrect, unfair,
arbitrary, or unsupported by the evidence.

The filing of the complaint by J.C. triggered a “Special Examiner” process at Brandeis.
As John eventually learned, J.C. had made twelve sets of allegations against him. The Special
Examiner found John “responsible” for four of the twelve claims. None involved claims of rape
or other violent sexual assault, or anything like it. Instead, John was found to have committed
sexual misconduct in the following ways:
First, at the very beginning of their relationship, John placed J.C.’s hand on John’s
(clothed) groin while they were watching a movie in a dormitory room. J.C. now contends that
the sexual contact was unwanted. John denies that the contact was non-consensual, and contends
that it was simply the first step in their sexual relationship. Among other things, he notes that the
two of them had sexual relations for the first time the very next day, and that they continued to
have such relations for most of the next two years. He also contends that J.C. afterward
recounted the episode in a humorous manner to friends, although the university would not accept
his evidence of that fact.
Second, John and J.C. frequently slept together in the same bed during their relationship.
According to J.C., John would occasionally wake him up by kissing him, and sometimes
persisted when J.C. wanted to go back to sleep.
Third, during the relationship, the two used a communal bathroom in the dormitory,
including a communal shower. According to J.C., John would look at his private areas when

8

they were showering together.
Fourth, in May 2013, after they had been dating for about a year and a half, J.C. and John
visited J.C.’s father’s house in North Adams, Massachusetts. During the trip, J.C. contends that
John attempted to perform oral sex on him when he did not want it. The two got in a fight, and
John wound up leaving the bed and lying on the floor. The two then made up, and J.C.
apologized to John.
The Special Examiner concluded, based on those incidents, that John had engaged in
sexual misconduct, sexual harassment, and invasion of privacy in violation of Brandeis policies.
She also concluded that he had committed “violence” against J.C., based on a definition of
“sexual violence” that encompassed virtually any form of unwanted sexual activity. Among
other things, the Special Examiner based her findings on the following assumptions:
•

that the long delay in reporting the alleged misconduct, and the failure to make
any contemporaneous complaint, had no bearing at all on J.C.’s credibility;

•

that the existence of a 21-month-long relationship was irrelevant to any of the
issues in the case, including the issue of consent;

•

that John’s kissing of J.C. while he was asleep constituted sexual misconduct,
because a person who is sleeping is incapacitated and therefore not capable of
giving express consent; and

•

that J.C.’s abuse of alcohol after the relationship ended bolstered his credibility,
on the ground that victims of sexual assault may abuse substances as a
consequence of the assault.

As a result of the Special Examiner Process, John received a “Disciplinary Warning”
from the university. That sanction, among other things, carries with it a permanent notation on

9

the student’s educational record; according to the complaint, John’s record will forever state that
he committed “serious sexual transgressions,” without any explanation of the actual conduct
involved. In the words of the complaint, John has been “effectively labeled” as a “predatory
sexual offender,” which is a “lifetime liability” for admission to graduate school or obtaining
employment. (Am. Compl. ¶¶ 24-25). The complaint also alleges that Brandeis did not keep the
process confidential, and that J.C. and other students have referred to John as an “attacker” and a
“rapist” in social media postings and in comments to national and local media.
Again, at this point of the proceeding, the Court is not deciding whether John actually
engaged in any form of sexual misconduct. But the parties agree on many of the critical facts,
including the process Brandeis used to resolve the matter and the contents of the Special
Examiner’s Report. And even the agreed-upon facts are sufficient to raise serious and
substantial concerns as to whether John was treated fairly.
Brandeis, of course, is not a governmental entity, or even a public university. It is not
bound by the requirements of the Sixth Amendment, such as an accused’s right to be informed of
the nature of the charges, the right to counsel, or the right to confront and cross-examine one’s
accuser. Its proceeding was not a criminal prosecution; the university had no power to
incarcerate John or deprive him of his property. And it is not generally the role of the federal
courts to tell a private university how to conduct its affairs.
Nonetheless, Brandeis’s authority to discipline its students is not entirely without limits.
Although the relationship between the university and its students is essentially contractual, the
university’s disciplinary actions may also be reviewed by the courts to determine whether it
provided “basic fairness” to the student. While that concept is not well-defined, and no doubt
varies with the magnitude of the interests at stake, it is nonetheless clear that the university must

10

provide its students with some minimum level of fair play.
When considering the issues presented in this case, it is impossible to ignore entirely the
full context in which they arose. In recent years, universities across the United States have
adopted procedural and substantive policies intended to make it easier for victims of sexual
assault to make and prove their claims and for the schools to adopt punitive measures in
response. That process has been substantially spurred by the Office for Civil Rights of the
Department of Education, which issued a “Dear Colleague” letter in 2011 demanding that
universities do so or face a loss of federal funding. See Russlynn Ali, Office for Civil Rights,
U.S. Dep’t of Educ., Dear Colleague Letter: Sexual Violence (Apr. 4, 2011),
http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-201104.pdf (“Dear Colleague
Letter”). The goal of reducing sexual assault, and providing appropriate discipline for offenders,
is certainly laudable. Whether the elimination of basic procedural protections—and the
substantially increased risk that innocent students will be punished—is a fair price to achieve that
goal is another question altogether.
Because the changes to the process were impelled in large part by the federal
government, the issues presented here are not entirely unique, and not confined to a single
campus. See Doe v. Brown Univ., 2016 WL 715794, at *1 (D.R.I. Feb. 22, 2016); Jacob E.
Gersen & Jeannie Suk, The Sex Bureaucracy, 104 Cal. L. Rev. (forthcoming) at 15-16. For
example, in July 2014, Harvard University adopted a new university-wide policy on sexual
harassment and sexual violence that appears to have substantial similarities to the Brandeis
policy at issue here. See Rethink Harvard’s Sexual Harassment Policy, Boston Globe (Oct. 15,
2014), https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2014/10/14/rethink-harvard-sexual-harassmentpolicy/HFDDiZN7nU2UwuUuWMnqbM/story.html. In response, 28 members of the Harvard

11

Law School faculty issued a statement voicing their “strong objections” to the policy. Id.
Among other things, the statement concluded that “Harvard has adopted procedures for deciding
cases of alleged sexual misconduct which lack the most basic elements of fairness and due
process, are overwhelmingly stacked against the accused, and are in no way required by Title IX
law or regulation.” Id. It called upon Harvard to “begin the challenging project of carefully
thinking through what substantive and procedural rules would best balance the complex issues
involved in addressing sexual conduct and misconduct in our community.” Id.
The goal must not be simply to go as far as possible in the direction of preventing
anything that some might characterize as sexual harassment. The goal must
instead be to fully address sexual harassment while at the same time protecting
students against unfair and inappropriate discipline, honoring individual
relationship autonomy, and maintaining the values of academic freedom.
Id.
Like Harvard, Brandeis appears to have substantially impaired, if not eliminated, an
accused student’s right to a fair and impartial process. And it is not enough simply to say that
such changes are appropriate because victims of sexual assault have not always achieved justice
in the past. Whether someone is a “victim” is a conclusion to be reached at the end of a fair
process, not an assumption to be made at the beginning. Each case must be decided on its own
merits, according to its own facts. If a college student is to be marked for life as a sexual
predator, it is reasonable to require that he be provided a fair opportunity to defend himself and
an impartial arbiter to make that decision.
Put simply, a fair determination of the facts requires a fair process, not tilted to favor a
particular outcome, and a fair and neutral fact-finder, not predisposed to reach a particular
conclusion. The principal question for the Court is whether the complaint plausibly alleges that
Brandeis denied John the “basic fairness” to which he was entitled. For the reasons set forth

12

below, the Court concludes that it does.
II.

Factual Background
The facts are set forth as alleged in the amended complaint and in documents submitted

as exhibits to the amended complaint. In addition, the Court has also taken certain facts from
documents submitted whose authenticity is not disputed and that are central to plaintiff’s claim.
See Watterson v. Page, 987 F.2d 1, 3 (1st Cir. 1993) (explaining that documents whose
authenticity is “not disputed by the parties” and “documents sufficiently referred to in the
complaint,” among other categories, may be considered on a motion to dismiss). 1
A.

The Relationship between John and J.C.

Brandeis University is a private university located in Waltham, Massachusetts. (Am.
Compl. ¶ 37). It is named for Louis D. Brandeis, a former Associate Justice of the United States
Supreme Court and one of the most distinguished judges in the history of the United States. (See
id.).
Plaintiff “John Doe” and “J.C.” met in August 2011 on the first day of orientation before
their freshman year at Brandeis. (Id. ¶¶ 2, 43). At the time, John was 17 years old; J.C. was 18.
(Id. ¶ 43).
The complaint alleges that John was “unsure of his sexual orientation, and had never
engaged in sexual activity with another man.” (Id.). J.C. was “openly gay and sexually

1

On a motion to dismiss, the court may properly take into account four types of documents outside the
complaint without converting the motion into one for summary judgment: (1) documents of undisputed authenticity;
(2) documents that are official public records; (3) documents that are central to plaintiff’s claim; and (4) documents
that are sufficiently referred to in the complaint. Watterson, 987 F.2d at 3; see also Romani v. Shearson Lehman
Hutton, 929 F.2d 875, 879 n.3 (1st Cir. 1991) (considering securities-offering documents submitted by defendants
with motion to dismiss for claim of securities fraud); Fudge v. Penthouse Int'l, Ltd., 840 F.2d 1012, 1014-15 (1st
Cir. 1988) (considering allegedly libelous article submitted by defendants with motion to dismiss). Here, the parties
have submitted a variety of undisputed documents that are central to plaintiff’s claims and specifically referred to in
the complaint, including, among other things, the principal Brandeis policies at issue and the Special Examiner’s
Report.

13

experienced”; John was neither. (Id.). The two quickly became “close friends”; J.C. “knew that
John was attracted to him, and they began to flirt with each other.” (Id. ¶ 44).
John and J.C. began having sexual relations in mid-September 2011. (Id. ¶¶ 45-47).
“In October 2011, John ‘came out of the closet’ to his parents, and he and J.C. revealed to their
Brandeis friends that they were boyfriends.” (Id. ¶ 46).
For a period of 21 months, between September 2011 and July 2013, John and J.C. were in
an “intimate, sexually active, and . . . exclusive dating relationship.” (Id. ¶ 47). The period in
question, in substance, included their entire freshman and sophomore years.
During that entire time, J.C. never complained to John, their friends, their relatives, any
Brandeis administrator, any member of campus police, or any member of the law enforcement
community about John’s conduct. (Id. ¶¶ 10, 51). Specifically, J.C. never complained that John
had performed any sexual act without his consent, had invaded his privacy, had sexually
harassed him, or had caused him physical harm. (Id.).
In July 2013, J.C. broke up with John. (Id. ¶ 55). J.C. did so because he “felt they had
lost a connection” and because “John was not strong-willed enough”; he wanted a “more
forceful” partner who would “stand up to him more.” (Id.).
After the relationship ended, the two remained cordial for a period of about four months.
(Id. ¶ 56). They had dinner with friends, worked together on campus projects, and exchanged
friendly e-mail messages. (Id.).
Near the end of 2013, however, their friendship deteriorated. (Id. ¶ 57). John was “put
off because J.C. . . . had started drinking alcohol to excess, which John perceived as hypocritical

14

given J.C.’s insistence during the [r]elationship that John not drink alcohol.” (Id.). 2
B.

The Accusation against John

In January 2014, J.C. “observed that a gay male student seemed to be attracted to John.”
(Id. ¶ 58). J.C. was also attracted to the student, and John believed that J.C. was jealous of his
interest in the other man. (Id. ¶¶ 58, 127). On January 13, 2014, J.C. sent the student a
Facebook “friend request,” which the student declined. (Id. ¶ 58).
The next day, January 14, 2014—more than six months after their relationship ended, and
approximately 28 months after their first sexual contact—J.C. accused John for the first time of
sexual misconduct. (Id. ¶ 59). He did so by filing a formal complaint, called a “community
standards report” (“CSR”), with Brandeis. (See id.).
That CSR, in its entirety, stated as follows: “Starting in the month of September 2011,
the Alleged Violator of Policy [John] had numerous inappropriate, nonconsensual sexual
interactions with me. These interactions continued to occur until around May 2013.” (Id.).
According to the complaint, on the same day the report was filed, Brandeis’s Dean of
Students, Jamele Adams, took “punitive action” against John “without giving [him] an
opportunity to explain his side of the story.” (Id. ¶ 60). Adams banned John from his residence,
classes, paid campus job, community advisor position, and “high-ranking student-elected
position on a University Board,” and “sequestered him in a campus facility.” (Id.). Adams did
so based only on the two-sentence allegation contained in J.C.’s report. He had “no knowledge
of any facts” underlying the allegation, and “had no information remotely suggesting John was a
danger to J.C. or the Brandeis community.” (Id.).

2

According to the Special Examiner’s Report, during this period J.C. underwent two sessions of “sexual
assault training,” which began, in his words, to change his “thinking” about his relationship with John. (Def. Mem.
Ex. B, Special Examiner’s Report at 13).

15

Two days later, on January 16, 2014, Brandeis notified John that J.C.’s accusations raised
six potential violations of Brandeis’s “Rights and Responsibilities” booklet: (1) sexual
misconduct; (2) taking sexual advantage of incapacitation; (3) lack of consent to sexual activity;
(4) sexual harassment; (5) causing physical harm to another; and (6) invasion of privacy. (Id.
¶ 61). Brandeis did not further elaborate or “inform John of any of the alleged acts that formed
those claims.” (Id.). Brandeis also notified John that his case would be handled through its new
“Special Examiner’s Process.” (Id. ¶ 62).
C.

Changes to the Handbooks

When John entered Brandeis as a freshman in August 2011, the university’s method of
handling claims of student misconduct was through a process called the Student Conduct
Hearing Process. That process was set forth in detail in the 2011-12 edition of the “Rights and
Responsibilities” Handbook (the “2011-12 Handbook”), which functions as Brandeis’s student
handbook. (Am. Compl. Ex. A, 2011-12 Handbook §§ 18.0-23). 3 John acknowledges that he
agreed to be bound by the rules and regulations contained in the 2011-12 Handbook as a
condition of his enrollment. (Am. Compl. at ¶ 169).
As set forth below, the process set forth in the Handbook for claims of sexual misconduct
changed each year that John was at Brandeis. It appears that many of the changes were
implemented as a result of a “Dear Colleague” letter issued in April 2011 by the United States
Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, that purported to interpret Title IX of the
Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1681 et seq., and its implementing regulations, 34

3

For ease of reference, the Court will refer to each edition of the “Rights and Responsibilities” booklet
simply as the Brandeis student handbook for that academic year.

16

C.F.R. Part 106. See Dear Colleague Letter. 4
According to the complaint, because the alleged incidents occurred during the 2011-12
and 2012-13 academic years, the procedures set forth in those Handbooks should have been used
in the course of the investigation. (Am. Compl. ¶ 69). Instead, Brandeis applied the 2013-14
Handbook to govern the procedures to be used in the Special Examiner Process, ostensibly
because J.C. filed the charges in the 2013-14 academic year. (Id.).
Because the central claim of the complaint is for breach of contract, and because the
student handbooks comprising the contract changed each year, a detailed examination of each
handbook is warranted.
D.

The Process under the 2011-12 Handbook

Both John and J.C. entered Brandeis as freshmen in the fall of 2011. In the 2011-12
Handbook, a student accused of serious misconduct was given the right, among other things, to
be informed of the charges against him in detail:
In cases where [the University] decides that there is evidence of a violation that
warrants referral to the conduct system the accused student will be contacted to
schedule a preliminary meeting with the appropriate administrator . . . . This
meeting will serve to inform the student of the details of the charges and educate
the student about the conduct system. The student will have the opportunity to
ask questions and make statements. After this preliminary meeting the student
will receive written charges.
(2011-12 Handbook § 19.1). 5
Under the 2011-12 Handbook, a student accused of misconduct had a right to request a
hearing before a Student Conduct Board. (Id. § 19.1). The Student Conduct Board consisted of

4

Brandeis does not, however, defend its procedures or conduct on the ground that they were required by
federal law. Indeed, Brandeis refers to Title IX only in passing, and only mentions the April 2011 “Dear Colleague
Letter” in a footnote. (Def. Mem. 25 n.6).
5

In addition, if the matter proceeded to a hearing, the university’s hearing administrator had to “be
available prior to the hearing at the request of the accused student to provide information regarding the alleged
violation . . . .” (2011-12 Student Handbook § 19.6).

17

two students and two faculty members for academic violations, and three students and one
faculty member for all other violations. (Id. § 20.2).
Both the accused and the accuser were required to be present at the hearing. (Id. § 19.9).
The accused and the accuser had “the right to view and question all evidence and reports
presented” during the hearing. (Id. § 19.11). They also both had the right “to question all
witnesses appearing” at the hearing. (Id.).
Unless “coexisting criminal charges” were pending against the accused, neither party was
permitted “to employ professional legal counsel or other persons from outside the University
community to present the case before the Board or to advise the student during the hearing.” (Id.
§ 19.8). Both parties were, however, permitted to bring “an advisor of his or her choice from
the University community to provide passive assistance during the hearing.” (Id.).
At the hearing, the chairperson was required to give a “statement of the student’s rights to
fairness under this process.” (Id. § 23). Among the “rights to fairness” provided to the accused
were as follows:
1. To bring one adviser of the accused/accuser’s choice from the University
community to provide passive assistance during the hearing (the adviser may
not serve as a witness)
2. To present witnesses on their own behalf
3. To question witnesses appearing against them
4. To submit verbal arguments
5. To remain silent and not testify against themselves. The accused/accuser
should remember that if they remain silent, the Board is compelled to hear the
case and render a decision based upon the evidence presented.
(Id.).
Both the accuser and the accused had the right to re-question each other after the other

18

witnesses had testified. (Id.). Board members were also permitted to question the parties and all
witnesses. (Id.).
A footnote to the 2011-12 version of the Handbook stated as follows:
Hearing procedures may differ in cases involving allegations of sexual
misconduct, sexual harassment or sexual discrimination in accordance with
Title IX.
(Id. § 23.0 at 30 n.1). The Handbook did not, however, indicate how those procedures might
“differ.” Among other things, the footnote does not indicate that the accused would not be
entitled to know the specific charges against him, to see and hear the evidence, or to confront and
cross-examine his accuser.
At the conclusion of the hearing, the Board was required to make one of three choices: to
make a finding of “not responsible”; to make a finding of “responsible,” with a recommendation
of a sanction; or to continue the case “to obtain additional information or for further
consideration.” (Id. § 19.13).
The 2011-12 Handbook further provided that “[i]n cases where the accused student
denies responsibility, the burden of proof shall rest upon the accuser.” (Id. § 19.12). The
accuser was required to prove his or her allegations by “clear and convincing evidence.” (See id.
§ 19.13). However, a “note” to the Handbook provided as follows: “In hearings that involve
allegations of sexual misconduct, sexual harassment or sex discrimination . . . the standard of
evaluation shall be preponderance of the evidence, instead of clear and convincing evidence.”
(Id. § 19.13).
The hearing administrator of the Student Conduct Board was required to prepare a
Hearing Report summarizing the evidence and its decision. (Id. § 19.14).
The 2011-12 Handbook also provided for an appeal by the accused and (in sexual

19

misconduct cases only) by the accuser. (Id. § 19.16). Written appeals were considered by a
University Appeals Board (“UAB”) consisting of three voting members (one student and two
faculty) and a tenured-faculty chairperson. (Id. §§ 20.7-8). The UAB had the authority to
uphold the original finding, find the accused not responsible, or increase or decrease the
sanction. (Id. § 19.16). No sanctions would take effect “until approved or modified by the Dean
of Student Life (or designee) or the Director of Student Rights and Community Standards.”
(Id.). Appeals, however, were limited to certain narrow issues. (Id.).
E.

The Process under the 2012-13 Handbook

Beginning in 2012-13, the university replaced the Hearing Process in some circumstances
with a Special Examiner Process. (Am. Compl. ¶ 68). It did so, however, only for allegations
involving sexual misconduct or discrimination (including sexual harassment and sex
discrimination). (Id.; Am. Compl. Ex. B, 2012-13 Student Handbook § 22.6). All other matters
involving alleged student misconduct remained subject to the Hearing Process. (Id. § 19).
The 2012-13 Special Examiner Process differed from the Hearing Process significantly. 6
It did not provide for a “hearing” in any sense of the word. Instead, the university would appoint
a Special Examiner, who would investigate the claims and make a recommendation to the Dean
of Student Life. The accused was given an opportunity to meet (separately) with the Special
Examiner during the investigation and to submit his own evidence, but was provided little else in
terms of procedural protection.
There was no requirement in the 2012-13 Handbook that the accused be informed of the
“details of the charges.” (Compare 2011-12 Handbook § 19.1). Instead, after receipt of a

6

For the sake of simplicity, only a summary of some of the more significant changes is provided as to the
2012-13 Handbook.

20

complaint—titled a Community Standards Report (”CSR”)—the Special Examiner would “meet
in-person with the Accuser” and simply “request” that the accuser “compose in writing a
thorough statement of the allegation(s) if the contents of the initial report do not represent a full
account” of the events giving rise to the report. (2012-13 Handbook § 22.6). If such a statement
were provided, it would eventually be shown to the accused, although not until after the accused
had prepared a response to the allegations. (Id.).
There was no requirement that copies of any “substantiating materials” submitted by the
accuser, or the names of any witnesses, be shown or provided to the accused at any time. The
Special Examiner chose which, if any, witnesses to interview; what questions to ask of everyone
interviewed; and what information, if any, the accused received during the process. The accused
was no longer informed of his or her “rights to fairness.” The accused had no right to confront or
cross-examine the accuser, no right to call witnesses, and no right to confront or cross-examine
the accuser’s witnesses. The accused had no right to review all of the evidence. And the Special
Examiner was required to use the “preponderance of the evidence” standard, rather than the
“clear and convincing evidence” standard, “in evaluating the responsibility of the Accused.” (Id.
§ 22.6 at 36).
The Dean of Student Life, rather than the Special Examiner, rendered the final decision.
(Id. at 39). The Dean might either find that the accused was responsible, and impose
accompanying disciplinary sanctions, or that the accused was not responsible. (Id.). And the
accused’s right of appeal remained highly circumscribed. (See id.).
F.

The Process under the 2013-14 Handbook

As noted, the procedures set forth in the 2013-14 Handbook were used to resolve John’s
matter. The 2013-14 Handbook retained the Special Examiner Process for sexual misconduct

21

cases, but with significant revisions to the process as it was originally described in the 2012-13
Handbook, and with even fewer protections for the accused. The revised Special Examiner
Process consisted of seven “phases”: Statements, Fact-Finding, Discussion, Responsibility
Findings, Deliberations, Outcome Notification, and Appeal. (Am. Compl. Ex. C, 2013-14
Handbook § 22.6 at 43-47).
Among other changes, the Special Examiner would no longer “request” that the accuser
provide a “thorough statement” or “full account” of the charges; instead, under the new
procedures, an administrator would merely “suggest” that such a statement be submitted. (Id. at
43). Furthermore, the requirement that the accused would be shown any such statement was
eliminated. Under the new process, the Special Examiner was made the sole decision-maker as
to “responsibility” (that is, guilt). The “outcome” (that is, the penalty) would be recommended
by a special panel of three university administrators, with the final decision to be made by an
administrator. Appeals were still narrowly circumscribed; furthermore, under the new process,
no students were permitted to sit on the appeals board.
Because Brandeis employed the procedures in the 2013-14 Handbook to resolve the
allegations against John, the Court will examine those procedures in some detail.
1.

The Statements Phase

The first phase of the 2013-14 Special Examiner Process was the “Statements Phase,” in
which the school would collect statements and information from both the accuser and the
accused. (Id. § 22.6 at 43-44). After receipt of a CSR, the Director of the Department of Student
Rights and Community Standards—not the Special Examiner—would “meet in-person with the
accuser.” (Id.). Instead of “request[ing]” that the accuser “compose in writing a thorough
statement of the allegation(s) if the contents of the initial report do not represent a full account”

22

of the events giving rise to the report, the 2013-14 Handbook stated that the Director should
“suggest” that the accuser do so. (Id.). “In addition to this statement, any other substantiating
materials, such as e-mail, text messages, photographs, records, names of witnesses, names,
etcetera, should be submitted [by the accuser] to the Director . . . .” (Id.).
The Director would then contact the accused by e-mail and inform him that a CSR has
been filed against him. (Id.). The Director would not, however, provide a copy of the CSR to
the accused. Within two business days, the accused would have an opportunity to “meet in
person” with the Director. The Director would “show” the accused the CSR and “suggest” that
he or she “compose in writing a thorough response to the allegations” and submit documents and
names of witnesses for consideration by the Special Examiner in the investigation. (Id.). The
accused at that point was permitted to submit “any other substantiating materials, such as e-mail,
text messages, photographs, records, names of witnesses, names, etcetera.” (Id.).
There was no requirement that the accuser actually provide a “thorough statement” or
“full account” of the alleged offenses. Even assuming that the accuser provided such a statement
or account to the university, the accused had no right to see it. Indeed, the accused was required
to provide his or her own detailed response without an opportunity to see or know the details of
the accusation. There was likewise no requirement that copies of any “substantiating materials”
submitted by the accuser, or the names of any witnesses, be provided to the accused at any time.
2.

The Fact-Finding Phase

The Fact-Finding Phase marked the initial appearance of the Special Examiner in the
process. The Special Examiner alone investigated the allegations. (Id. § 22.6 at 44). That same
person was given complete authority to decide whether the accused was “responsible” for the
alleged violations; in other words, the Special Examiner was simultaneously the investigator, the

23

prosecutor, and the judge who determined guilt. 7
The Special Examiner was required to conduct interviews with the accuser and the
accused “separately and in-person.” (Id. § 22.6 at 45). 8 The Special Examiner could interview
witnesses identified by the parties, “as well as those identified by the Special Examiner.” (Id.).
The Special Examiner could also consider documents and other physical evidence. (Id.). Those
documents and physical evidence “deemed by the Special Examiner to be of material importance
to the Deliberations Phase [would] be logged and shared equally with the parties to ensure the
opportunity for response.” (Id.).
Again, the Special Examiner chose which, if any, witnesses to interview; what questions
to ask of anyone interviewed; and what information the accused received during the process.
The accused had no right or opportunity to confront his accuser, or to cross-examine the accuser
in any way. The accused likewise had no right or opportunity to confront or cross-examine the
witnesses against him. And the accused had no right to examine or obtain copies of witness
statements or any “substantiating materials.”
There was no right to counsel under the 2013-14 Handbook. 9 As before, the 2013-14
Handbook instructed the Special Examiner to use the “preponderance of the evidence” standard

7

Furthermore, and as noted below, the ability of the accused to appeal or overturn that decision remained
highly circumscribed.
8
During the interviews with the accuser and the accused, the Special Examiner would “be joined at all
times by an Observer, whose role is passive, with the exception of providing supplemental description of details
regarding procedures and University services.” (2013-14 Handbook § 22.6 at 45). In addition, the accuser and the
accused were “entitled (though not required) to be joined by their Advisor, if one has been selected.” (Id.).
Advisors could be any current member of the Brandeis community, including students, faculty, administrators, and
staff. (Id. § 19.6.d).
9
In the 2011-12 and 2012-13 Handbooks, there was no right to counsel, even to provide advice, unless
criminal charges were pending. (2011-12 Handbook § 19.8; 2012-13 Handbook § 19.8). The 2013-14 Handbook
continued that policy in cases not involving sexual misconduct. (2013-14 Handbook § 19.6.d). The section
concerning the Special Examiner’s Process did not specifically address the issue; both parties, however, appear to
agree that there was no right to counsel under that process.

24

“in evaluating the responsibility of the Accused.” (Id. § 22.0 at 43).
After completing the investigation, the Special Examiner was required to prepare a
Report. (Id. § 22.6 at 45). The Special Examiner’s Report would “summarize[] undisputed and
disputed facts [and] offer[] conclusions about the credibility of testimony.” (Id.). The Special
Examiner also made “a finding about whether the Accused is responsible for any or all charges.”
(Id.). The Report was submitted to the Senior Student Affairs Officer or his or her designee (the
“SSAO”) “in support of the Responsibility Findings and/or Deliberations Phase of the process.”
(Id. § 22.6 at 42).
A copy of that Report was not provided to the accused at any point in the investigation,
even to permit the accused to prepare an appeal.
3.

The Discussion Phase

Under the 2013-14 Handbook, the SSAO “conduct[ed] the Discussion Phase
conversations with the parties and communicate[d] findings to the parties made by the Special
Examiner.” (Id. § 22.6 at 43).
During the Discussion Phase, the accuser and the accused were provided separate
opportunities to meet with the SSAO “to hear and respond to the findings made by the Special
Examiner” and “to offer rebuttal or new information to the [SSAO] based on the findings.” (Id.
§ 22.6 at 45). The accuser and the accused, in separate meetings, would “listen to the [SSAO’s]
summary of findings and engage in dialog with the [SSAO] about these findings.” (Id. § 22.6 at
46). Each party had two business days within which to provide “new, pertinent information or
names of witnesses for the [SSAO’s] consideration.” (Id.). If after the meetings and after
submission of new information or witness names, the SSAO sought “additional fact-finding,” the
SSAO would request the Special Examiner “to make any and all necessary inquiries.” (Id.).

25

4.

The Responsibility Findings Phase

In the Responsibility Findings Phase, if the accused was found “not responsible,” the
SSAO would contact the parties; if he was found “responsible,” the process would move to the
Deliberations Phase. (Id.).
5.

The Deliberations Phase

In the Deliberations Phase, a panel of three University administrators or faculty members,
appointed by the SSAO, would “receive the Special Examiner’s report and make
recommendations as to the outcome(s) for the Accused.” (Id. § 22.6 at 46).
The panel will consult the Special Examiner’s report and will be entitled to
interview the Special Examiner. The panel will not interview the parties,
witnesses, or other experts or individuals. Upon voting, the panel will
communicate its recommendations about the outcome(s) for the Accused to the
[SSAO].
(Id.). Again, the three-person panel could review the Report, but the accused could not. The
SSAO would then “render the final decision as to any outcomes.” (Id.). However, the Special
Examiner’s verdict was final; there was nothing in the policy that permitted either the panel or
the SSAO to reverse or modify a finding that the accused was “responsible.”
6.

The Outcome Notification Phase

In the Outcome Notification Phase, the SSAO would communicate the final decision to
the accused and the accuser. (Id.). Any sanction would take effect immediately, regardless of
any appeal. (Id.).
7.

The Appeal Phase

In the Appeal Phase, both the accused and the accuser were “entitled to appeal the final
decision by the panel in the Special Examiner’s Process” to the UAB. (Id.). (As noted, the panel
actually made no “final decision” of any kind, but only a recommendation to the SSAO.) Unlike

26

in the 2012-13 incarnation of the Handbook or the normal appeal process for non-sexual
misconduct cases, only faculty members, and not students, could serve as UAB members in
appeals of Special Examiner matters. (Id.).
As before—and despite the consolidation of the powers of investigation, prosecution, and
adjudication in the Special Examiner—the accused’s right of appeal was narrowly limited.
Appeals could not be based upon “dissatisfaction with an imposed sanction,” but “based only on
specific evidence, presented in writing” of claims of “fraud,” “denial of rights under this
process,” “procedural error,” or “the claim of new evidence not previously available, which
would have materially affected the decision.” (Id. § 22.6 at 46-47).
There was no right of appeal on the grounds that there was insufficient evidence to
sustain the findings; that the Special Examiner was mistaken as to any factual issue; that the
Special Examiner acted arbitrarily or capriciously; or that the Special Examiner was biased.
Moreover, the accused was expected to prepare his appeal without access to the Report on which
the finding of responsibility was based.
Regardless of the UAB’s conclusions, the SSAO retained the discretion “to amend or
uphold the original final decision.” (Id. § 22.6 at 47).
8.

Access to Records

The 2013-14 Handbook states that “[d]ocuments generated from the Special Examiner’s
Process will be retained pursuant to the rules in Sections 17.4, 19.5, 19.6.j.” (Id.). Section 19.5
states that “[a] record of the Administrative Action, compris[ing] of a summary of the evidence
presented and decision rendered, shall be made by the administrator”; that any such records shall
be maintained for seven years; and that “[a]ccess to such records is governed by the University
Records Policy (see sections 17.4 and 19.6.j).” (Id. § 19.5). Section 19.6.j is similar to section

27

19.5, except that it applies to a “Written Hearing Report,” which is not prepared during the
Special Examiner’s Process (because no hearing takes place). (Id. § 19.6.j).
Section 17.4, in turn, provided as follows:
The Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) gives
each enrolled student at Brandeis certain rights, including access to the student’s
educational records, the right to request amendment of those records where the
student believes a record is inaccurate or misleading, and the right to add a
statement presenting the student’s view if the records are not amended. A
detailed statement of the rights and responsibilities of a student under the Act, the
location of all records pertaining to a student, and the procedures for requesting
access are contained in the Brandeis University Records Policy. The policy is
available from the University Registrar and at:
www.brandeis.edu/registrar/bulletin/EducRecordsPolicy.html.
(Id. § 17.4). The records policy and FERPA state that students may have access to their
educational records within 45 days after making a request. (Am. Compl. ¶ 154).
G.

Sexual Misconduct Policies under the 2013-14 Handbook

The Brandeis Student Handbooks for 2011-12, 2012-13, and 2013-14 set forth a series of
“standards” applicable to Brandeis students. As set forth below, the Special Examiner applied
the substantive policies (but not the procedures) for the academic year in which the alleged
misconduct occurred. The policies relevant to this matter are the following, which remained the
same each year except as noted.
1.

Physical Harm (§ 2.1.d)

Section 2.1.d provided: “The University will not tolerate any behavior that . . . physically
harms or is considered unwanted physical contact (some examples: hitting, pushing, or physical
altercations/violence of any kind).” (2013-14 Handbook § 2.1.d). 10

10

The 2012-13 Handbook added the phrase “or is considered unwanted physical contact.” (2012-13
Handbook § 2.1.d).

28

2.

Invasion of Personal Privacy (§ 2.1.e)

Section 2.1.e addressed invasion of privacy: “The University will not tolerate any
behavior that . . . invades personal privacy . . . .” (Id. § 2.1.e). 11
3.

Sexual Misconduct (§§ 3.1, 3.2, 3.3)

The policies concerning sexual misconduct were principally set forth in Sections 3.1
through 3.3:
3.1. Students are prohibited from engaging in sexual misconduct. Sexual contact
that occurs without the explicit consent of each person involved may be
considered sexual misconduct. Consent must be clearly and affirmatively
communicated, mutual, noncoercive, and given free of force or threat of force. A
person who is physically or mentally incapacitated by drugs, alcohol, or other
circumstances is not capable of giving consent. Physical or mental incapacity
means the lack of ability to appreciate the fact that the situation is sexual, and/or
the inability to rationally and reasonably appreciate the nature and extent of that
situation. . . .
3.2. . . . [T]aking advantage of someone’s incapacitation or intoxication for the
purpose of engaging in sexual activity is considered sexual misconduct.
3.3. Consent or lack of consent may be communicated verbally or through
actions but if a refusal to engage in sexual activity is communicated at any time
then the activity must cease immediately. Lack of consent may also be inferred
from the use of force, threat, physical intimidation, or advantage gained by the
Accuser’s mental or physical incapacity or impairment of which the Accused was
aware or should have been aware. Prior sexual activity or an existing
acquaintanceship, friendship, or other relationship that has been sexual in nature
does not constitute consent for the continuation or renewal of sexual activity.
(Id. §§ 3.1, 3.2, 3.3).
4.

Sexual Harassment (§ 7.2)

The 2013-14 Handbook prohibited sexual harassment, and provided a list of examples,
including “[u]nwelcome sexual conduct” and “pressure to engage in sexual activity of an implied
or explicit nature.” (Id. § 7.2). The Handbook provided that such conduct is “regarded as

11

The 2012-13 Handbook added the phrase “or constitutes stalking of any type . . . .”; the 2013-14
Handbook addresses stalking in a separate subparagraph. (2012-13 Handbook § 2.1.e; 2013-14 Handbook § 2.1.h).

29

harassment when the conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with a
person’s education or work performance by creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive
environment in which to work, study or live; or otherwise adversely affects a person’s
employment or educational opportunities.” (Id. § 7.1).
H.

The Special Examiner’s Investigation

Brandeis hired an outside lawyer to serve as the “Special Examiner” for John’s case.
(Am. Compl. ¶ 90). The Special Examiner then began to interview witnesses and prepare a
report.
The complaint alleges that immediately after receiving notice of the charges against him
on January 14, 2014, and for weeks thereafter, John repeatedly asked university officials to
inform him of the factual bases for the charges against him. (Id. ¶ 87). He had not been
provided with anything more than J.C.’s vaguely worded accusation. According to the
complaint, John “still had no idea what he was alleged to have done wrong during his nearly
two-year [r]elationship with J.C.” (Id.). The university refused his requests. (Id. ¶ 88).
According to the complaint, within days of the filing of the CSR, Brandeis’s General
Counsel told John that the Dean’s office had received “substantially more information” as to
J.C.’s accusations. (Id. ¶ 148). However, during the “Statements Phase” of the investigation, no
additional information was ever provided to John. (Id.).
According to the complaint, it was not until February 2014, when John had his first
interview with the Special Examiner, that he began to learn of the factual allegations behind the
charges. (Id. ¶ 89). Even then, John was forced to speculate based on the particular questions
the Special Examiner asked him about certain incidents. (Id.). The Special Examiner questioned
John about John and J.C.’s use of the communal bathrooms, about “wake-up morning kisses,”

30

and whether John had slept on the floor during a visit to J.C.’s father’s house. (Id. ¶ 93). Based
on those questions and others, John believed that certain incidents must have been brought up
during J.C.’s two interviews with the Special Examiner in January and February. (Id. ¶ 89).
Over the next three months, the Special Examiner interviewed John three more times, and
interviewed J.C. two more times. (Id. ¶ 91). The Special Examiner also interviewed two
Brandeis administrators, one of whom was identified by John; two other witnesses identified by
John; and four additional witnesses identified by J.C. (Id.). According to the complaint, none of
the witnesses were actual eyewitnesses to any of the alleged incidents. (Id.). 12
At no point was John allowed to question J.C. or otherwise to confront his accuser. Nor
was he allowed to confront any of the other witnesses or conduct any kind of cross-examination.
Furthermore, John was never informed what J.C.’s witnesses told the Special Examiner. (Id.
¶¶ 94-95).
As set forth below, the Special Examiner ultimately concluded that John was responsible
for a variety of charges arising out of four separate incidents. (Id. ¶ 98).
I.

The Reading of the “Summary”

According to the complaint, Lisa Boes, Brandeis’s Dean of Academic Services, was
chosen to act as Brandeis’s “final decision maker” in John’s case. (Id. ¶ 96). (Presumably, she
was the designee of the SSAO selected to conduct the Discussion Phase and any subsequent
phase.) According to the complaint, she was chosen because the Brandeis administrator who
would have normally presided over the process had recused himself; it further alleges that she
was inexperienced and “ill-prepared” for the role. (Id. ¶ 97).
John met with Boes on April 24, 2014. (Id. ¶ 96). At their meeting, Boes refused to give

12

The 2013-14 Handbook defines “witness” to mean “[a]ny person who was present during the alleged
incident(s) or who has direct knowledge of the incident.” (2013-14 Handbook § 22.6 at 42).

31

John a copy of the Special Examiner’s Report. (Id. ¶ 98). Instead, she simply read aloud a
summary that she had prepared of the Special Examiner’s findings. (Id. ¶ 96). John was
likewise not given a copy of the summary.
According to the complaint, John was “stunned” by the reading of the summary. (Id.
¶ 30). On May 2, 2014, John responded to the summary by supplying additional facts, names of
witnesses, and a sworn affidavit. (Id. ¶ 131). According to the complaint, Boes refused to accept
at least some of that evidence. (See id. ¶ 110).
On May 12, 2014, Boes notified John that on the basis of her review of the Report and
John’s response to the summary, she concurred with the Special Examiner’s findings on all
charges. (Id. ¶ 132). Boes accepted the findings unilaterally and without the recommendation of
any panel. (Id. ¶ 133).
J.

The Three-Person Panel and the Sanction

After accepting the findings of the Special Examiner, Boes convened a three-member
panel to recommend a sanction. (Id. ¶ 134). The panel did not consider the merits of the Special
Examiner’s finding that John was responsible for the charges.
The panel either gave or recommended that John receive a “disciplinary warning.” (See
id. ¶ 135). 13 According to the complaint, the warning was “the lightest sanction possible.” (Id.).
The complaint further alleges that “[t]hrough this sanction, the Panel members clearly signaled
that they did not agree with the findings or concluded that the conduct [at] issue was not serious
and did not warrant the labels put on it by the Special Examiner.” (Id.).
The disciplinary warning required John to undergo sensitivity training. More

13

The complaint alleges that the Panel actually imposed the sanction. (See id. ¶ 135). However, under the
2013-14 Handbook, the panel would only “make recommendations as to the outcome(s) for the Accused,” and that
the “final decision” as to “any outcomes” would be rendered by an administrator (here, Boes). (2013-14 Handbook
§ 22.6 at 46).

32

importantly, it resulted in the addition of a notation in John’s permanent education record, stating
that he was found responsible for sexual misconduct, lack of consent, taking advantage of
incapacitation, sexual harassment, physical harm, and invading personal privacy. (Id. ¶ 136).
The notation did not provide any explanation for the conduct underlying the charges for which
John was found responsible. (Id.).
When John received notice of the sanction, he again asked Brandeis for a copy of the
Special Examiner’s report for use in his appeal. (Id. ¶ 138). He also asked for the Special
Examiner’s witness interview notes. (Id.). Once again, Boes refused, as did Brandeis’s General
Counsel, Chief Legal Officer, and Senior Vice President of Students and Enrollment. (Id. ¶ 140).
K.

The Appeal

John appealed the Special Examiner’s findings on grounds of procedural error, denial of
rights, and fraud. (Id. ¶ 141). On June 17, 2014, Boes informed John that three faculty members
had been selected to serve on the appeals board, and that “members of the [board] do not interact
with either party or their advisors about the process or appeal materials.” (Id. ¶ 160). She also
assured John that the members of the board had been “vetted for potential conflicts prior to being
selected.” (Id.). According to the complaint, John later learned that the chair of the appeals
board and J.C.’s advisor for the Special Examiner process had collaborated on a Brandeissponsored Subcommittee on Sexual Violence during the pendency of that process. (Id. ¶ 161).
On June 20, 2014, the appeals board rejected John’s appeal. (Id. ¶ 142).
L.

The Special Examiner’s Report

In July 2014—after Brandeis had denied his appeal and closed his case—Brandeis finally
gave John a copy of the Special Examiner’s report. (Id. ¶ 154). The Special Examiner’s Report
is dated April 16, 2014. (Def. Mem. Ex. B, Special Examiner’s Report). It is 25 pages long,

33

single-spaced, without exhibits. (Id.).
The Report analyzed twelve separate sets of claims made by J.C. against John. (Id. at 512). Six of those claims allegedly occurred during the “pre-dating relationship,” and six
allegedly occurred during the relationship itself. (Id.). The Special Examiner organized the
claims as follows:
A.

August 2011 through Approximately October 18, 2011 (Pre-Dating
Relationship)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

B.

Unwanted Touching While Walking
Pornography Incident
Text Messaging Incident
The Movie Incident
Post-Movie Conduct
Decision to Begin Dating

Dating Relationship
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Bathroom Incidents
Post-Shower Conduct
Mandating that J.C. Sleep Naked
Sexual Conduct While Sleeping
Attempts to Have J.C. Perform Oral Sex
Performing Oral Sex on J.C.

(Id.). As set forth below, the Special Examiner found that the evidence was insufficient, and
that John was therefore “not responsible” as to eight of the twelve alleged claims.
1.

Allegations Not Sustained by Special Examiner
a.

“Unwanted Touching While Walking”

J.C. alleged that John occasionally touched J.C. “in a sexual manner” while they were
walking, such as bending over and forcing J.C. “to walk into his butt.” (Id. at 5, 18). None of
their friends had ever witnessed any such conduct, and John denied that it had occurred. The
Special Examiner concluded that the evidence was “insufficient to indicate that these incidents
occurred.” (Id. at 18).
34

b.

“Pornography Incident”

J.C. alleged that John sometimes asked him if he wanted to watch pornography on his
laptop computer. (Id. at 6, 22). If J.C. did not want to, John would sometimes move the laptop
so “it was in front of [his] face,” and J.C. would then protest or threaten to leave the room. (Id.
at 6). Again, no friends had witnessed such conduct, and John denied that it occurred. (Id. at
22). The Special Examiner found the evidence was insufficient as to that claim. (Id.).
c.

“Text Messaging Incident”

J.C. alleged that in the fall of 2011, John texted him 10 or 12 sexually explicit messages.
(Id. at 6, 22). J.C. asked him to stop. (Id. at 6). Neither party preserved any of the texts
messages. (Id.). The Special Examiner found the evidence was insufficient as to that claim. (Id.
at 22).
d.

“Post-Movie Conduct”

As set forth below, J.C. alleged that in mid-October 2011, John put J.C.’s hand on John’s
(clothed) groin while watching a movie in a friend’s room. J.C. further alleged that during some
period after the “movie incident,” John was occasionally naked in J.C.’s room, occasionally tried
to kiss him, and once put his hand on his groin. (Id. at 7, 19). When J.C. objected, John
“sulked” and was “moody.” (Id. at 19). None of the witnesses observed any such
behavior. (Id.). The Special Examiner found the evidence was insufficient as to that claim.
(Id.).
e.

“Decision to Begin Dating”

The Special Examiner’s report as to this claim reads as follows:
After the Movie Incident, [J.C.] and [John] began “quietly hooking up” according
to [John] but did not immediately begin dating. According to [J.C.], he was
unsure whether he wanted to begin dating someone who was not out of the closet.
[John] recalled that he was conflicted about whether he wanted to “come out” as
35

he believed that this could ruin his future in politics.
[J.C.] stated that he felt coerced into starting a dating relationship with [John]
because [John] stated that he only would come out if [J.C.] promised to be in a
relationship with him. According to [J.C.], this put him in an awkward position.
[J.C.] and [John] had multiple conversations about this. According to [J.C.],
[John] was very persistent and [J.C.] finally stated that he might consider being
his boyfriend if [John] came out. Approximately a week before [John] and [J.C.]
began dating, they went to a performance at Chums Coffeehouse. [J.C.]
commented that one of the performers was attractive and [John] became jealous.
This led to discussions between [John] and [J.C.] regarding their relationship. On
or around October 17, 2011, [John] told his parents and his best friends from
home that he had a boyfriend. Both Parties agreed that they began dating after
this.
(Id. at 7-8). It is unclear what, if any, sexual misconduct was alleged as to those matters. In any
event, the Special Examiner made no finding as to any of J.C.’s claims concerning the decision
to begin dating.
The report goes on to note that “[s]everal friends commented that [J.C.] and [John] got
along well, with one stating that they were happy and ‘cuddly’ with each other, and had high
opinions of each other.” (Id. at 8). They continued to have a romantic relationship until July
2013. (Id. at 12).
f.

“Post-Shower Conduct”

J.C. alleged that during the course of their relationship, John would stare at him “when he
returned to his dorm room after taking a shower and was trying to dress,” and occasionally
would compliment him and say how attractive he was. (Id. at 9). The Special Examiner found
the evidence was insufficient as to that claim. (Id. at 22).
g.

“Mandating that J.C. Sleep Naked”

J.C. alleged that in the course of their relationship, John “required” him to sleep naked
when he slept over at John’s room. (Id. at 10, 22-23). The Special Examiner found that the
evidence was insufficient as to that claim. (Id. at 23).
36

h.

“Attempts to Have J.C. Perform Oral Sex”

J.C. alleged that approximately five to ten times in the course of their relationship, John
attempted to get J.C. to perform oral sex in a way that J.C. thought was forceful or pressuring.
John denied the allegations. (Id. at 11, 20). The Special Examiner found that the evidence was
insufficient as to that claim. (Id. at 23).
2.

Allegations Sustained by Special Examiner

As noted, the Special Examiner found John “responsible” for four acts of sexual
misconduct.
a.

“Movie Incident”

J.C. alleged that on approximately September 17 or 18, 2011, he and John were watching
a movie in a friend’s room, sitting on the friend’s bed. (Id. at 6). The friend was sitting in a
chair next to them. (Id.). J.C. and John were not yet boyfriends. According to J.C., John put
J.C.’s hand on John’s groin, which was covered by his pants. (Id.). J.C. contends that he
“froze,” but removed his hand after some period of time. (Id. at 6-7).
John agreed that he had moved J.C.’s hand, but said that J.C. did not object. (Id. at 7).
John also told the Special Examiner that the two of them had sex together the very next day,
which J.C. did not deny (although he said he did not remember). (Id.). According to John, he
had put J.C.’s hand on his groin as the initial step in their sexual relationship. J.C. had told him
that he would never make the “first move on a straight guy.” (Am. Compl. ¶ 45). John
interpreted that as a “clear signal that he would have to initiate any sexual activity.” (Id.). John
characterized the incident as his “first move,” and said that it led almost immediately to sexual
relations and a 21-month romantic relationship. (Id.).
The Special Examiner found John responsible for sexual misconduct based on the “movie

37

incident.” (Special Examiner’s Report at 18). After the summary was read to him, John
submitted to Boes the names of witnesses who “would have attested to the fact that J.C.
humorously recounted the Movie Incident to mutual friends throughout the relationship.” (Am.
Compl. ¶ 110). According to the complaint, Boes refused to forward those names on to the
Special Examiner. (Id.).
b.

“Bathroom Incident”

J.C. alleged that during the course of the relationship, John would look at his private
areas when the two were using the communal bathrooms in the dormitory. (Special Examiner’s
Report at 8, 22). John told the examiner that J.C. “never expressed any discomfort” with his
actions, and that looking at J.C. was “a joke” or “a humorous situation because they were in a
same sex relationship and could use the bathroom together.” (Id. at 8). 14
The Special Examiner found John responsible for the sexual misconduct based on that
behavior. (Id. at 22). The Special Examiner concluded that John “does not effectively
distinguish between a joke and inappropriate behavior that invades other’s [sic] personal
privacy.” (Id.).
c.

“Sexual Conduct While Sleeping”

J.C. alleged that on approximately twelve occasions during the course of the relationship,
while they were sleeping together, John would awaken him by trying to initiate sexual activity.
(Id. at 10, 19). John denied that he ever woke J.C. up with sexual activity, but stated that he
sometimes woke him up by kissing him. (Id. at 10). 15

14

According to the complaint, the Special Examiner found that John had invaded J.C.’s privacy “even
though the two were in a nearly two-year sexually intimate relationship, routinely slept together naked, and shared
communal facilities, and even though J.C. could have used a private stall but chose not to.” (Am. Compl. ¶ 20; see
id. ¶ 121).
15

According to the complaint, “on occasion, J.C. stated he wished John would surprise him more and
reciprocate more sex acts than he did.” (Am. Compl. ¶ 51).

38

According to the Special Examiner, John gave inconsistent responses concerning the
wake-up kisses, which substantially undermined his credibility. (Id. at 19). In her words:
During one interview, [John] stated that he did sometimes wake [J.C.] up by
kissing him, but that he did this in the morning, not in the middle of the night.
[John] reported that if [J.C.] said that he wanted to go back to sleep, sometimes
[John] said, “Seriously?” and continued kissing [J.C.] unless [J.C.] indicated
again that he really did want to go back to bed. [John] altered his recollection
during another interview, by stating twice that [J.C.] never stated that he wanted
to go back to bed when [John] woke him up by kissing him. After being informed
of the inconsistency with his previous interview, [John] commented that he meant
that [J.C.] might have stated that [he] wanted to go back to bed if [John] woke
him up at about 8:00 AM, but not if he woke him up at 10:00 AM.
(Id.).
The Special Examiner concluded that John had “altered his story” and was not credible.
(Id.). She concluded that because “[s]leep is a state of incapacitation,” and because “a student
who is incapacitated cannot give consent to sexual activity,” John had committed non-consensual
sexual misconduct by kissing J.C. (Id.). 16 She also concluded that because John did not always
stop kissing J.C. when J.C. said he wanted to go back to sleep, John had committed a sexual
assault by failing “to stop immediately after an individual has indicated a refusal to engage in the
activity.” (Id.).
d.

“Performing Oral Sex on J.C.”

J.C. alleged that John had attempted to perform oral sex on him during a visit to J.C.’s
father’s house in North Adams, Massachusetts. (Id. at 11-12, 20-21). The incident allegedly
occurred in May 2013, at which point the two had been in a romantic relationship for about a
year and a half. (Id.).
J.C. alleged that John tried to perform oral sex on J.C. when he did not want it; that he
asked John “whether he understood that this was sexual assault”; that John “became upset by this

16

She did not make a specific finding as to any sexual misconduct while sleeping other than kissing.

39

accusation and wound up lying on the floor.” (Id. at 20). J.C. stated that
. . . [John] became very upset, got out of bed and lay on the floor, stated that he
loved [J.C.] too much to assault him, and commented that he could not believe
that [J.C.] was accusing him of assault. [J.C.] stated that [John] convinced [J.C.]
that he was wrong. [J.C.] asked that [John] forget about the conversation and
apologized to [John]. According to [J.C.], the logical part of his brain was not
sorry for raising the issue, but he wondered how he could accuse someone who he
loved of such a horrible thing.
(Id. at 12).
Again, the Special Examiner gave great weight to what she perceived to be John’s
inconsistent responses:
During one interview for this investigation, [John] stated that he did not recall
anything unusual occurring during the North Adams trip, and denied that [J.C.]
ever brought up the fact that he felt sexually assaulted. However, in subsequent
interviews, [John] offered inconsistent responses, initially stating that he did not
remember if he slept on the floor, then stating that he thought he was on the
ground due to heat, not an argument. [John’s] lack of memory regarding whether
he wound up on the floor is not credible. During this investigation, in the many
conversations regarding sleeping arrangements in [John] and [J.C.’s] relationship,
[John] had never previously mentioned moving to or sleeping on the floor. Even
when, as part of this investigation, [John] was asked specifically what he did
when he was hot when sleeping with [J.C.] he did not mention that he moved to
the floor. Rather, he stated that he stopped cuddling, rolled over to an adjoining
bed, or went on top of the sheets. It is likely, therefore, that moving to the floor
due to [a] temperature control issue was an unusual event and that, therefore,
[John] would have remembered if he did move to sleep on the floor during the
North Adams visit. The inability of [John] to recall whether he moved to [the]
floor during his North Adams visit, weakens [John’s] credibility regarding his
response to [J.C.’s] allegation that [John] performed oral sex on him without
consent.
(Id. at 20).
The Special Examiner concluded that J.C.’s version was more credible than John’s. (Id.).
She then concluded that John had committed a sexual assault because J.C. “never clearly
communicated that he wanted [John] to perform oral sex.” (Id. at 21).

40

3.

The Special Examiner’s Conclusions as to the End of the Relationship
and J.C.’s Decision to Bring Charges

J.C. broke up with John over the telephone in July 2013. The Special Examiner
concluded that J.C. “felt physically repelled” by John; that John “called too often”; that he “did
not stand up enough for his beliefs”; and “was not strong-willed or forceful enough.” (Special
Examiner’s Report at 12). Their friends “were surprised by the break up.” (Id.).
At the beginning of the fall semester 2013, J.C. received “sexual assault training” as part
of a Brandeis program. (Id. at 13). According to J.C., that training “forced him,” for the first
time, to “start thinking about what he viewed as sexual harassment within his relationship” with
John. (Id.).
Throughout the fall of 2013, John and J.C. “tried to stay friends,” but over time their
friendship began to deteriorate. (Id.). Among other things, J.C. started to drink alcohol,
sometimes to excess. John thought that was hypocritical, because J.C. had not allowed him to
drink during their relationship. (Id.). 17
At the beginning of the spring semester 2014, J.C. received another round of “sexual
assault training.” (Id. at 14). J.C. “became concerned around this time” that John had become
friendly with another male student. (Id.). According to J.C., “based on the sexual assault
training and because he wanted to make sure that [John] would not treat anyone else the way that
[J.C.] believed [John] had treated him,” he “decided to file a CSR.” (Id.).
4.

The Special Examiner’s Credibility Findings

The Special Examiner also made general observations as to the credibility of both J.C.

17

According to the complaint, at some point, J.C. told John that J.C.’s mother had a history of alcohol
abuse; that she had neglected J.C. and his siblings; and that she had attempted suicide, all of which led to J.C.’s
placement in foster care. (Am. Compl. ¶ 52). In light of his family history, J.C. did not drink alcohol during the
relationship and insisted that John did not drink alcohol as well. (Id. ¶ 53).

41

and John. She noted that both students “agree on the basic timeframe of their relationship, and
both recall many of the same incidents that occurred during their relationship.” (Id. at 15).
However, she also noted that the two “do not agree on many of the details important to this
investigation (e.g. facts regarding whether consent was given)” and “completely disagree about
whether some incidents actually occurred (e.g. the North Adams Incident).” (Id.).
As to J.C., the Special Examiner concluded that his statements had been “consistent”
from his “initial description,” and that there was a “consistent theme linking many of the alleged
incidents,” including “the pressure he felt in the relationship” and “the belief that it was easier to
placate John by engaging in [sexual] activities than to continue to object.” (Id.). She gave
substantial weight to J.C.’s use of alcohol after he and John broke up:
Further, [J.C.’s] allegation that he experienced unwanted sexual activity was
credible, given his behavior after he broke up with [John]. Specifically, [J.C.]
began drinking after he broke up with [John] which he had not done previously.
A study of physical and sexual abuse found that past or recent occurrence of
assault is associated with significantly increased rates of reported alcohol abuse.
. . . [Several] Interviewees reported that although [J.C.] had not used alcohol
before the break up with [John], after the break up [J.C.] began drinking. [J.C.]
reported that he now feels like he “needs a drink” and sometimes drinks in order
to fall asleep. In addition, he reported that on the weekends he “drinks too much,”
having 12 to 14 drinks. In addition, [J.C.] began seeing a mental health
professional in January 2014 for treatment related to sexual assault. [J.C.’s] new
use of alcohol and mental health services strengthens his credibility that he
experienced unwanted sexual contact.
(Id. at 15-16) (citation omitted). 18
As to John, the Special Examiner concluded that “[i]n general” he was a “credible
participant” in the interviews, “based on his demeanor and consistency,” but with “significant
exceptions.” (Id. at 16). She substantially discounted the importance of the fact that the two
students were in a romantic relationship for 21 months; that they appeared happy and

18

According to the complaint, the study in question was a single study from the 1990s that reported
increased rates of alcohol use by women after recent occurrences of sexual assault. (Am. Compl. ¶ 125).

42

comfortable together; and that J.C. had never reported any sexual misconduct to anyone during
that period. In her words:
Several Interviewees implied that [John] was more credible than [J.C.] because
the Parties seemed happy and comfortable together. To support this, [John]
presented documentation including pictures in which [John] and [J.C.] appeared
to be happy and Facebook comments that suggested a normal, happy dating
relationship. . . . Note, however that sexual misconduct does occur in dating
relationships and that such conduct can occur for years. . . . Further, studies have
noted that individuals likely underreport incidents of intimate partner violence to
friends and family due to a number of reasons, including shame and
embarrassment, and may underreport because they do not perceive unwanted
sexual contact with an intimate partner as coercive. . . . The fact that [John] and
[J.C.] were in what appeared to be a happy dating relationship and [J.C.] did not
inform friends about his allegations during the relationship, therefore, does not
bolster [John’s] credibility or weaken [J.C.’s] credibility.
(Id.) (citations and footnote omitted).
5.

The Special Examiner’s Conclusions

The Special Examiner concluded that John had violated section 3.1 of the Handbook
(sexual conduct without consent) as to the movie incident, the sleeping incidents, and the North
Adams incident; section 3.2 (taking advantage of incapacitation) as to the sleeping incidents; and
section 3.3 (failing to cease sexual activity after refusal) as to the sleeping incidents and the
North Adams incident. (Id. at 17-20). She also concluded that he violated section 2.1.e
(invasion of privacy) as to the bathroom incidents. (Id. at 21-23).
The Special Examiner also concluded that John had committed acts of “violence”
against J.C. in violation of section 2.1.d. (Id. at 21). As noted, section 2.1.d prohibits behavior
that “physically harms” another student or “is considered unwanted physical contact,” and gives
as examples, “hitting, pushing, or physical altercations/violence of any kind.” (2012-13
Handbook § 2.1.d). Her reasoning was as follows:
The Rights and Responsibilities handbooks do not define violence. Therefore,
this report uses the definition of sexual violence provided by the U.S. Department
43

of Education, Office for Civil Rights in its April 4, 2011 Dear Colleague Letter.
The Dear Colleague Letter defines sexual violence as “physical sexual acts
perpetrated against a person’s will or where a person is incapable of giving
consent due to the victim’s use of drugs or alcohol.”
(Special Examiner’s Report at 21) (citation omitted).
There was no evidence that John had actually committed an act of physical violence, as
that term is commonly understood. There is no evidence, for example, that he physically struck
J.C. or perpetrated a forcible rape, at least in any ordinary sense of the term.
Finally, the Special Examiner concluded that John had also committed acts of sexual
harassment against J.C. by adversely affecting J.C.’s education. (Id. at 23-24). That finding
was based, in part, on J.C.’s claim that he had to drop a course in the Spring of 2013 “as a result
of stress related to [John’s] conduct.” (Id. at 24). The Special Examiner also based her finding
on the fact that J.C. felt “pressured” on occasion to engage in sexual activity, and that John
would sometimes get “moody and sulky” if J.C. declined to do so. (Id. at 23).
M.

Subsequent Developments

According to the complaint, during the appeals process and after John’s case was closed,
J.C. continued to file additional “frivolous” reports against John. (Am. Compl. ¶ 186). J.C. filed
three additional claims accusing John of “stalking, sexual harassment, retaliation, and
intimidation.” (Id. ¶ 189). None of those accusations were found credible. (Id.). J.C. also sent
multiple letters to Brandeis administrators calling John an “attacker” and “a threat to the safety
and well-being of the entire campus.” (Id. ¶ 190).
In June 2014, J.C. posted Brandeis’s final outcome letter in John’s case to Facebook;
although he redacted John’s name, J.C. identified him by name to students and media reporters
off-line. (Id. ¶ 191). J.C. also added a comment to his Facebook post characterizing John as his
“attacker” and accusing him of “multiple forms of rape.” (Id. ¶ 192). According to the
44

complaint, those accusations were “false and malicious.” (Id. ¶ 193).
As John learned when he finally received the Special Examiner’s Report in July
2014, J.C. specifically told the Special Examiner that John never “raped” him
(which J.C. defined as penetration without consent), and nowhere in the Special
Examiner’s Report is there an allegation or a finding that John ever “attacked” or
“raped” J.C.
(Id.).
In June 2014, J.C. spoke to a national publication regarding his story, referring to John as
his “attacker.” (Id. ¶ 194). Although a Brandeis administrator publicly stated that J.C.’s story
contained “factual errors,” the university did nothing more to identify or correct those errors.
(Id.).
In September 2014, a reporter for NPR station WBUR told John that J.C. claimed John
had “anally raped” J.C. (Id. ¶ 195). J.C. also made that claim to other Brandeis students. (Id.
¶ 196). According to the complaint, J.C.’s claims were false. (Id.).
In September 2014, “J.C. posted on his Facebook page a photograph of himself wearing a
poster board with the handwritten notation that he had been sexually assaulted.” (Id. ¶ 197).
According to the complaint, J.C. “vowed he would wear the poster board around campus every
day until he graduated, whether or not his ‘attacker’ was expelled.” (Id.).
According to the complaint, as a result of J.C.’s campaign, Brandeis students “publicly
taunted and accused John of rape.” (Id. ¶ 198). His reputation in the Brandeis community has
been ruined, severely harming his employment prospects.
In October 2014, John received a call from his internship employer, a “highly-ranked
public official.” (Id. ¶ 200). The employer had been “made aware” of John’s situation at
Brandeis from “several sources,” and fired John. (Id.). Another prospective employer, who has

45

“ties to Brandeis,” also “stopped responding to John’s e-mails after promising to hire him for the
fall semester.” (Id. ¶ 202).
John graduated from Brandeis magna cum laude with a 3.8 grade point average. (Id.
¶ 143). According to the complaint, his career options have been severely harmed because he
now has to explain and defend himself to every graduate school, employers, and friends who
discover what happened. (Id. ¶ 144).
N.

Recent Changes to the Process

After John’s case was closed, Brandeis made several changes to the Special Examiner
Process. (Id. ¶ 179). It now requires a “co-examiner” in the fact-finding phase, and provides
that the Special Examiner’s Report should be provided to the parties during the process. (Id.
¶¶ 180-81). Brandeis also now requires the accuser to give a detailed description of the alleged
conduct in the initial report, and requires the Director of the Department of Student Rights and
Community Standards to determine that there is sufficient evidence of a violation before
beginning formal adjudication of the complaint. (Id. ¶¶ 182-83).
III.

Procedural Background
On April 9, 2015, John filed the original complaint in this action. On June 23, 2015, John

filed an amended complaint. Brandeis has moved to dismiss all claims against it under Fed. R.
Civ. P. 12(b)(6).
IV.

Legal Standard
On a motion to dismiss, the Court “must assume the truth of all well-plead[ed] facts and

give . . . plaintiff the benefit of all reasonable inferences therefrom.” Ruiz v. Bally Total Fitness
Holding Corp., 496 F.3d 1, 5 (1st Cir. 2007) (citing Rogan v. Menino, 175 F.3d 75, 77 (1st Cir.
1999)). To survive a motion to dismiss, the complaint must state a claim that is plausible on its

46

face. Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007). That is, “[f]actual allegations must
be enough to raise a right to relief above the speculative level, . . . on the assumption that all the
allegations in the complaint are true (even if doubtful in fact).” Id. at 555 (citations omitted).
“The plausibility standard is not akin to a ‘probability requirement,’ but it asks for more than a
sheer possibility that a defendant has acted unlawfully.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678
(2009) (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 556). Dismissal is appropriate if the complaint fails to set
forth “factual allegations, either direct or inferential, respecting each material element necessary
to sustain recovery under some actionable legal theory.” Gagliardi v. Sullivan, 513 F.3d 301,
305 (1st Cir. 2008) (quoting Centro Medico del Turabo, Inc. v. Feliciano de Melecio, 406 F.3d 1,
6 (1st Cir. 2005)).
V.

Analysis
A.

Breach of Contract

Count One of the amended complaint asserts a claim for breach of contract based on
eight specific alleged violations of the Handbook. 19
It is well-established that the student-college relationship is contractual in nature. See,
e.g., Mangla v. Brown Univ., 135 F.3d 80, 83 (1st Cir. 1998) (“The student-college relationship
is essentially contractual in nature. The terms of the contract may include statements provided in
student manuals and registration materials.” (internal citations omitted)); see also Guckenberger
v. Boston Univ., 957 F. Supp. 306, 317 (D. Mass. 1997) (“Universities are capable of forming
legally cognizable contractual relationships with their students. Brochures, policy manuals, and

19

John has withdrawn his original Count One, which was a cause of action for discrimination under Title
IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. § 1681(a). Compare Doe v. Brown Univ., 2016 WL 715794
(D.R.I. Feb. 22, 2016); Bleiler v. College of the Holy Cross, 2013 WL 4714340 (D. Mass. Aug. 26, 2013).

47

other advertisements can form the basis of such contractual agreements.”). 20
“Under Massachusetts law, interpretation of a contract is ordinarily a question of law for
the court.” Coll v. PB Diagnostic Sys., Inc., 50 F.3d 1115, 1122 (1st Cir. 1995) (internal
quotations omitted). The standard for interpreting the terms of a student-university contract is
that of “reasonable expectation—what meaning the party making the manifestation, the
university, should reasonably expect the other party to give it.” Schaer v. Brandeis Univ., 432
Mass. 474, 478 (2000) (quoting Cloud v. Trustees of Boston Univ., 720 F.2d 721, 724 (1st Cir.
1983) (citing Coveny v. President & Trs. of the Coll. of the Holy Cross, 388 Mass. 16, 20
(1983))).
In addition, the Court must “examine the hearing” afforded to the student “to ensure that
it was conducted with basic fairness.” Cloud, 720 F.2d at 725 (footnote omitted); Schaer, 432
Mass. at 481.
1.

“Reasonable Expectation” of the Student
a.

Elimination of the “Statements Phase”

Doe first alleges that Brandeis breached the terms of the 2013-14 Handbook by
“effectively eliminating” the Statements Phase of the Special Examiner Process. (Pl. Mem. 710). As noted, the complaint alleges that J.C. provided “substantially more information” to the
university beyond the vague allegations in the CSR, and that university officials refused to
provide it to John. According to John, a reasonable student would have expected to have been
provided with that information in order to prepare his defense.
In this context, of course, the Court must assume the truth of the allegation that Brandeis
had in fact obtained a thorough statement of the charges made by J.C., and refused to provide it

20

For the purposes of this motion, Brandeis concedes that the Handbook created an enforceable contract.

48

to John. Such a refusal was unfortunate, at best; the most rudimentary concepts of fairness
would seem to require that an accused be advised of the charges against him. Nonetheless, that
refusal did not breach the express terms of the Handbook.
The language of the Handbook does not require that Brandeis provide the accused with
any information provided by the accuser other than the “community standards report.” The
Handbook merely states that the director should “suggest” that the accuser prepare a thorough
statement if the CSR does not “represent a full account” of the alleged incident. (2013-14
Handbook § 22.6 at 43-44). Thus, the Handbook does not even require that the accuser provide a
“full account,” much less that Brandeis obtain such an account and provide it to the accused.
Because the Handbook does not mandate the creation of any such statement, it would be
unreasonable for a student to expect one to be provided to him as of right, at least according to
the express language of the Handbook.
The Handbook also provides that “any other substantiating materials, such as e-mail, text
messages, photographs, records, names of witnesses, names, etcetera,” “should”
be provided by the accuser to the school. (Id.). While such information—the basic
corroborating evidence, if it exists—“should” be provided, it is by no means clear that the
accuser is required to do so, or that there is any consequence for failing to do so. And there is
nothing in the Handbook that requires the university to share that evidence with the accused.
Thus, based on the language of the Handbook alone, a Brandeis student in the position of
the accused would have no objectively reasonable expectation of being shown anything more
than the CSR.
b.

Elimination of the “Deliberations Phase”

John next asserts that Brandeis also breached the terms of the Handbook by eliminating

49

the “Deliberations Phase” of the process. The Handbook provides that if the accused is found
“responsible” by the Special Examiner, a panel of three administrators would then “make
recommendations as to the outcome(s)” for the accused. (Id. § 22.6 at 46). The panel would
vote and “communicate its recommendations about the outcome(s) for the Accused” to the
SSAO, who would “render the final decision as to any outcomes.” (Id.).
The gist of John’s contention is that the panel’s duty to “make recommendations as to the
outcome(s) for the Accused” necessarily includes a recommendation as to whether the accused
should be found “responsible” for the charges alleged. John contends that Boes, however,
convened the panel solely for the purpose of determining a sanction and that the panel was not
allowed to deliberate on the issue of whether, in fact, John should be found responsible.
Brandeis contends that the panel’s responsibility to determine “outcomes” extends only to
recommending whether or not an accused should face sanctions, and, if so, what the sanctions
should be.
The dispute between the parties is thus whether (as John contends) “outcomes” means
“finding of responsibility plus sanctions,” or whether (as Brandeis contends) “outcomes” means
only “sanctions.”
The Handbook is no model of clarity. It does not define the terms “responsibility” or
“outcome.” Furthermore, it uses the term “sanction” in its “outcome notification” section:
The [SSAO] will communicate the final outcome(s) decision in writing (handdelivered paper copy) to the Accuser and the Accused within 7 days under usual
circumstances. The Accuser will be informed of any sanctions that relate to them
in accordance with applicable laws.
Any and all sanctions, including suspension or dismissal, will be in effect
immediately, regardless of any appeal that may be submitted by the parties.
(Id.). Thus, during “outcome notification,” a “final outcome[] decision” is communicated “in

50

writing (hand-delivered paper copy)” to the accuser, whereas the accuser is informed of “any
sanctions” that relate to them “in accordance with applicable laws.” (Id.)
Furthermore, in describing the “Appeals Procedures,” section 22.6 states that “[t]he
Accuser and the Accused are entitled to appeal the final decision by the panel in the Special
Examiner Process to the University Appeals Board . . . Appeals shall not be based upon, or
granted due to, dissatisfaction with an imposed sanction.” (Id. § 22.6 at 46-47) (emphasis
added). According to that language, the panel actually makes a “final decision,” and again the
term “sanction,” rather than “outcome,” is used.
In general, “any uncertainty in the meaning of the document’s terms” is to be construed
against the drafter. See New Bedford Gas & Edison Light Co. v. Maritime Terminal, Inc., 380
Mass. 734, 735-36 (1980) (citing Merrimack Valley Nat’l Bank v. Baird, 372 Mass. 721, 724
(1977)); see also PhoneDOCTORx, LLC v. Healthbridge Mgmt., Inc., 58 F. Supp. 3d 152, 160
(D. Mass. 2014) (citing Nadherny v. Roseland Prop. Co., Inc., 390 F.3d 44, 49 (1st Cir. 2004)).
However, “[i]n interpreting contractual language,” courts must “consider the contract as a
whole.” Farmers Ins. Exch. v. RNK, Inc., 632 F.3d 777, 785 (1st Cir. 2011) (quoting Nicolaci v.
Anapol, 387 F.3d 21, 26 (1st Cir. 2004)); see also Starr v. Fordham, 420 Mass. 178, 190 (1995)
(“[N]o part of the contract is to be disregarded.”).
Here, the Handbook clearly delineates between a finding of “responsibility” on the one
hand and an “outcome” and/or “sanction” on the other. The finding of “responsibility” is
entrusted entirely to a single person—the Special Examiner—and the panel is provided no
authority to re-examine or revise that determination. To the extent the Handbook is ambiguous,
it concerns (1) whether “outcome” and “sanction” are the same thing, or “sanction” is a subset of
“outcome,” and (2) whether the panel makes a “recommendation” or a “final decision.” Neither

51

ambiguity, however resolved, addresses the finality of the Special Examiner’s “responsibility”
finding. Accordingly, Brandeis did not breach the express terms of the contract by eliminating
the Deliberations Phase.
c.

Breach of Express Representation as to Conflicts of
Interest on Appeals Board

John next contends that Brandeis also breached an express representation that the
members of the appeals board had been screened for potential conflicts of interest. That claim is
based on an e-mail from Boes to John on June 17, 2014, in which she stated that “members of
the [appeals board] do not interact with either party or their advisors about the process or appeal
materials,” and that the three members “have been vetted for potential conflicts.” (Am. Compl.
¶ 160). The complaint alleges that Brandeis breached Boes’s express representation because the
chair of the appeals board that decided John’s case did, in fact, interact with J.C.’s advisor during
the pendency of Doe’s appeal, in a manner that rendered the appeal unfair. (Id. ¶ 161).
Specifically, it alleges that the chair of the appeals board served on a University Subcommittee
on Sexual Violence with J.C.’s advisor for the Special Examiner Process; that the Subcommittee
issued its report one week after the appeal decision; and that therefore the two individuals must
have discussed details of John’s case. (Id. ¶ 26e).
The Handbook does not contain any provision that members of the appeals board will be
screened to prevent a conflict of interest. John, however, contends that Boes’s statement is an
enforceable contract because it was made during the course of the Special Examiner Process and
was a communication in furtherance of that process.
“‘Extrinsic evidence should not be used to add terms to a contract that is plausibly
complete without them.’” Coffin v. Bowater Inc., 501 F.3d 80, 98 (1st Cir. 2007) (discussing
latent ambiguities) (quoting Bidlack v. Wheelabrator Corp., 993 F.2d 603, 608 (7th Cir. 1993)
52

(en banc)). Here, the Handbook is “plausibly complete” with respect to how members of the
appeals board will be selected and how they are to interact with one another. Therefore, Boes’s
subsequent representation to John that those members would be free of any conflicts of interest
does not constitute an additional enforceable term of the Handbook.
d.

Failure to Use the Hearing Process as Described in the
2011-12 Handbook

John next contends that Brandeis committed a breach of contract because it used the
Special Examiner Process (as set forth in the 2013-14 Handbook) instead of the “Hearing
Process” outlined in the 2011-12 Handbook. John contends that the procedures in the 2011-12
Handbook should have been employed in his case, because that was the Handbook he signed as a
condition of his enrollment at Brandeis.
As noted, the Handbook for each relevant academic year was different. The conduct in
question occurred during the 2011-12 and 2012-13 academic years; for that reason, the Special
Examiner applied the substantive policies in the 2011-12 and 2012-13 Handbooks. However, the
university used the procedures set forth in the 2013-14 Handbook in order to investigate and
adjudicate the allegations.
In general, a student does not have a contractual right to have disciplinary proceedings
conducted under the specific procedures in effect at the time of the student’s matriculation. See
Coveney, 388 Mass. at 22. “A college is ‘clearly entitled to modify [its rules and regulations] so
as to properly exercise its educational responsibility.’” Id. (quoting Mahavongsanan v. Hall, 529
F.2d 448, 450 (5th Cir. 1976)).
Brandeis notes that the 2011-12 Handbook states that the process used to handle
violations of campus policy is “constantly evaluated and tweaked by the [Brandeis] community

53

every year.” (2011-12 Handbook at 1). 21 John acknowledges that reservation of rights, but
maintains that the substitution of the Special Examiner Process for the Hearing Process in cases
of sexual misconduct was beyond what a reasonable student would reasonably expect to qualify
as a “tweak.”
Although the matter is not entirely free from doubt, Brandeis appears to have the better
argument. The 2011-12 Handbook expressly reserved the right of the school to change its
procedures each year; whether this was a “tweak” or not is certainly debatable, but John had no
reasonable expectation that the procedures under the Handbook would be frozen for all four
years. 22 It is also likely that each academic year created a new contractual relationship. 23
Furthermore, it would be impractical and unwieldy to use different procedures in a single
adjudicative process.
Accordingly, Brandeis did not breach the express terms of the contract by using the
procedures set forth in the 2013-14 Handbook to adjudicate matters that arose in the 2011-12 and

21

The 2011–12 Handbook includes the following statement:

Rights and Responsibilities also contains the procedures the University employs when a member
of the community believes that a student has violated a campus policy. This process . . . is
ultimately a Brandeis-grown and nurtured one that is constantly evaluated and tweaked by the
community every year.
(2011-12 Handbook at 1).
22
The year-to-year changes may have been less significant than they appear at first blush; as outlined
above, Brandeis did state in the 2011–12 Handbook that its procedures might be different for sexual misconduct
cases (although it did not state how).
23

The precise basis of the student-university contractual relationship is uncertain at best. It appears that the
basic theory is that (1) a student who accepts an offer of admission to a university, enrolls, and pays tuition, and
(2) a university that permits the student to enroll, thereby agree to a contractual relationship. As noted, the terms of
the contract may include statements in student handbooks and registration materials. Mangla, 135 F.3d at 83. It is
unclear whether there is a single four-year contract; a series of annual contracts, based on the academic year; a series
of contracts based on each semester or quarter of registration; or some combination of those alternatives. In this
context, at least, the most sensible reading appears to be that John and Brandeis entered into a new contractual
relationship each academic year.

54

2012-13 academic years.
e.

Failure to Use the Hearing Process as to Charges of Physical
Harm and Invasion of Privacy

John also contends that even if it was appropriate to use the Special Examiner Process for
the sexual misconduct charges, Brandeis nonetheless breached the terms of the 2013-14
Handbook by failing to use the normal process for the physical harm and invasion of privacy
charges. Thus, in substance, John argues that where the evidence or allegations concern both
sexual and non-sexual misconduct, the Handbook gives the student a contractual right to two
separate proceedings—the Special Examiner Process for charges of sexual misconduct, and the
Hearing Process for non-sexual misconduct charges—even where, as here, the same conduct is at
issue.
The basic premise of that argument—that part of the proceeding involved non-sexual
misconduct—is incorrect. All of the alleged incidents referred to are conduct reasonably
characterized as sexual in nature, even those that the Special Examiner labeled “violent.”
Furthermore, and in any event, the language of section 22.6 plainly contemplates that a
“case” may include one or more possible violations. 24 It further states that where violations of
section 3 and section 7 are at issue, “the case” will be adjudicated by the Special Examiner

24

The relevant portions of the 2013-14 Handbook are as follows:

Section 19.1
In cases where the Department of Student Rights and Community Standards decides that there is
evidence of a violation that warrants referral to the Conduct Process the Accused will be contacted
to schedule the Preliminary Meeting . . . . This meeting will serve to inform the student of the
details of the charges and educate the Accused about the Conduct Process.
Section 22.6
In cases where the [Department of Student Rights and Community Standards] receives a report a
determines that one or more possible violations of Section 3 (Sexual Responsibility) or Section 7
(Equal Opportunity, Non-Discrimination, and Harassment) exist, the case will be adjudicated by
the Special Examiner’s Process.

55

Process. (2013-14 Handbook § 22.6 at 42). Based on that language, no reasonable Brandeis
student could expect that he had a contractual right to have the case split such that some of the
alleged violations would be handled by the Hearing Process, especially where all violations were
based on common incidents.
f.

Failure to Provide a Copy of the Special Examiner’s Report

John next contends that Brandeis breached the terms of the Handbook by refusing to give
him a copy of the Special Examiner’s Report during the “Discussion” and “Appeals” phases of
the Special Examiner Process. 25 That claim is based on section 22.6 of the Handbook, which
states that “[d]ocuments generated from the Special Examiner’s Process will be retained pursuant
to the rules in sections 17.4, 19.5, and 19.6.j.” (2013-14 Handbook § 22.6 at 47).
Sections 19.5 and 19.6.j do not directly address the issue of a student’s access to records.
Section 17.4, in turn, has three components. First, it notes that FERPA “gives each enrolled
student at Brandeis certain rights, including access to the student’s educational records, the right
to request amendment of those records where the student believes a record is inaccurate or
misleading, and the right to add a statement presenting the student’s view if the records are not
amended.” (Id. § 17.4). Second, it provides that “[a] detailed statement of the rights and
responsibilities of a student under the Act, the location of all records pertaining to a student, and
the procedures for requesting access are contained in the Brandeis University Records Policy.”
(Id.). Third, it provides that “[t]he policy is available from the University Registrar and at:
www.brandeis.edu/registrar/bulletin/EducRecordsPolicy.html.” (Id.). The policy itself allegedly
provides, among other things, that a student is entitled to access to his or her records within 45

25

John also seeks to obtain copies of the interview notes taken by the Special Examiner and the Observer.
(Am. Compl. ¶ 155).

56

days of a request. (See Am. Compl. ¶ 154).
A student reading those provisions could reasonably expect that the Special Examiner’s
Report was part of his “educational record,” and that he could obtain access to it within 45 days
after a request. 26 The complaint alleges that John requested a copy of the Special Examiner’s
Report when Lisa Boes read him the summary of that report and again after receiving notice of
his sanction in order to prepare his appeal. (Am. Compl. ¶¶ 130, 138-39).
The timing of those events is not entirely clear. The Special Examiner’s Report is dated
April 16, 2014; the summary (which was read aloud to John) is dated April 24; John responded
to the summary on May 2; Boes notified John that she concurred with the Special Examiner’s
findings on May 12; and John’s appeal was rejected on June 20. (Special Examiner’s Report at
1; Sec. Moriello Aff. Ex A, Boes Summary of Special Examiner’s Report at 1; Am. Compl.
¶¶ 131-32, 142). If John requested a copy of the Report on April 24, during the reading of the
summary, Brandeis would have been obligated to provide him access within 45 days, or by June
14, six days before the appeal was decided.
Although the issue is not free from doubt, it is at least plausible that the failure of
Brandeis to provide John access to the Report within 45 days was a material breach of contract
that prevented him from effectively appealing the Special Examiner’s findings. Accordingly, the
complaint states a claim upon which relief can be granted as to that issue.
g.

Failure to Maintain Confidentiality of Educational Record

John next contends that Brandeis breached the terms of the Handbook by failing to
maintain the confidentiality of his disciplinary record. He alleges that Brandeis either

26

An accused student might not necessarily be permitted to retain a copy of the Report, as opposed to
simply having “access” to it, but that is not a question that the Court needs to resolve at this stage.

57

intentionally leaked the Special Examiner’s findings to third parties, or failed to provide
adequate safeguards to prevent his disciplinary record from being disclosed. 27
Again, section 22.6 of the 2013-14 Handbook states that “[d]ocuments generated from
the Special Examiner’s Process will be retained pursuant to the rules in Sections 17.4, 19.5, and
19.6.j.” Section 19.5 provides in part as follows:
A record of the Administrative Action, comprised of a summary of the evidence
presented and decision rendered, shall be made by the administrator. Such
records are confidential and shall be retained . . . for seven years from the date on
which this record was written, after which it will be destroyed . . . .
(2013-14 Handbook § 19.5). 28
Brandeis first argues that because the Handbook expressly refers to “records,” its
obligation of confidentiality covered only John’s records themselves, and did not extend to the
information contained in those records. But that interpretation is clearly incorrect—that is, a
Brandeis student would not reasonably expect to read the provisions in the same way. Mere
protection of a disciplinary record only would be entirely pointless if administrators were free to
disclose the information the record contained. No reasonable Brandeis student would expect that
Brandeis would be free to broadcast his confidential information as long as the actual records
themselves were not leaked.
Brandeis further contends that the allegation in the complaint that it leaked information
“about” the Special Examiner’s findings is not specific enough to state a claim. According to
Brandeis, there are numerous facts it could have released “about” the findings that would not

27

John also alleges that Brandeis breached its obligations under the Handbook by allowing J.C. to disclose
the findings to third parties. The Court agrees with Brandeis that the Handbook imposes no responsibility on
Brandeis for any disclosures of John’s confidential information made by J.C. that were made without its knowledge.
28

It is not at all clear how §19.6.j applies to the Special Examiner Process, notwithstanding the explicit
reference in § 22.6 to that section. Section 19.6.j, by its terms, applies to a “Written Hearing Report”; under the
Special Examiner Process, there is no hearing and therefore no Hearing Report is prepared.

58

involve information actually contained in the Special Examiner’s Report.
On a motion to dismiss, the Court must “accept as true all well-pleaded factual averments
in the plaintiff’s amended complaint and indulge all reasonable inferences therefrom in his
favor.” Deniz v. Municipality of Guaynabo, 285 F.3d 142, 144 (1st Cir. 2002) (citing Valentin v.
Hospital Bella Vista, 254 F.3d 358, 365 (1st Cir. 2001)). The complaint alleges that after
information “about” the Special Examiner’s findings was disclosed, John was fired by one
employer and had his job offer withdrawn by a second employer. (Am. Compl. ¶¶ 200-02).
These allegations are more than sufficient to support a reasonable inference that the
“information” allegedly disclosed included specific information from the Special Examiner’s
findings, such as the finding that John was responsible for the charges.
h.

Arbitrary and Capricious Findings

Finally, John contends that, under Massachusetts law, Brandeis breached its contract with
him because the Special Examiner’s findings were arbitrary and capricious, and because
Brandeis subjected him to a disciplinary process that was fundamentally unfair.
Massachusetts courts have held that a private university may not act “arbitrarily or
capriciously” in disciplining a student. See Coveney, 388 Mass. at 19 (citations omitted);
Catalan-Aguilar v. R3 Educ., Inc., 2015 WL 6043598, at *2 (D. Mass. Oct. 15, 2015). However,
it is unclear whether the “arbitrary and capricious” standard applies to school disciplinary
proceedings that are also governed by the express terms of a student-university contract.
Compare Coveney, 388 Mass. at 19 (applying arbitrary and capricious standard in the absence of
a contractual right to a disciplinary hearing), and Schaer, 432 Mass. at 482 (“Coveney . . . applies
in cases where there is no contractual relationship.”), with DMP v. Fay Sch. ex rel. Bd. of Trs.,
933 F. Supp. 2d 214, 223 (D. Mass. 2013) (“[T]he [school’s] decision to expel [plaintiff] was

59

neither arbitrary nor capricious . . . . The question thus becomes whether [the school] violated a
contractual right by expelling [plaintiff].”). Further, at least one Massachusetts court has
considered whether the school’s decision was arbitrary and capricious under the umbrella of
“basic fairness.” See Driscoll v. Board of Trs. of Milton Acad., 70 Mass. App. Ct. 285, 295
(2007).
As set forth below, the Court concludes that the complaint plausibly alleges that Brandeis
did not provide “basic fairness” to John. Accordingly, at this stage, the Court does not need to
reach the issues of whether the “arbitrary and capricious” standard is applicable under the
circumstances of this case, or whether there is a meaningful distinction between the questions of
whether Brandeis’s procedures afforded John “basic fairness” and whether Brandeis’s actions
were “arbitrary and capricious.”
2.

“Basic Fairness”

School disciplinary hearings must be “conducted with basic fairness.” Cloud, 720 F.2d at
725 (citing Coveney, 388 Mass. at 20); Schaer, 432 Mass. at 481. Brandeis’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. Id.
“Basic fairness” is an uncertain and elastic concept, and there is little case law to serve as
guideposts in conducting the fairness inquiry. Nonetheless, the concept must be given some
meaning, and the requirement that a university provide some level of “fairness” clearly suggests
that there is such a thing as an unfair proceeding, and that a failure to provide such a proceeding
may be actionable under certain circumstances.
There is, however, no one-size-fits-all answer to the question what of constitutes the
“basic fairness” that a student is due. The case law appears to indicate, and common sense and

60

experience would likewise suggest, that the answer may vary depending upon the competing
interests at stake, include such factors as the magnitude of the alleged violation, the likely
sanctions and other consequences of a finding of guilt, and the university’s experience and
aptitude in resolving disputes of that nature. See Goss v. Lopez, 419 U.S. 565, 579 (1975)
(addressing requirements for disciplinary process in a public high school: “the timing and
context of the notice and the nature of the hearing will depend on appropriate accommodation of
the competing interests involved”).
Here, the charges made by J.C. involved a serious subject matter: a claim of repeated
acts of alleged sexual assault—indeed, purported sexual “violence”—over a period of nearly two
years. The consequences of a finding of “responsibility” for those offenses are substantial
indeed.
As an initial matter, sanctions for violations of Brandeis’s community standards include
ineligibility for campus housing, loss of the opportunity to participate in campus activities or
employment, suspension, and expulsion. (2013-14 Handbook § 21.1). 29
A finding of responsibility for sexual misconduct can also have significant consequences
off-campus. Post-graduate educational and employment opportunities may require disclosure of
disciplinary actions taken by a student’s former educational institution. In addition, Brandeis
also reserves the power to disclose records of disciplinary actions to other educational
institutions without the consent of the student. See Brandeis University Education Records:
Statement of Policy and Procedures, BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY,

29
A Brandeis student may be suspended prior to any hearing on the merits. (2013-14 Handbook § 22.2).
The complaint alleges that upon receipt of J.C.’s report of sexual misconduct, but before an investigation or hearing,
“the University banned John from his residence, classes, paid University job, position as community advisor,
student-elected position on a prominent University Board, and sequestered him in a campus facility.” (Am. Compl.
¶¶ 7, 9).

61

http://www.brandeis.edu/registrar/bulletin/EducRecordsPolicy.html (last visited Mar. 31, 2016).
Finally, a Brandeis student who is found responsible for sexual misconduct will likely
face substantial social and personal repercussions. It is true that the consequences of a university
sanction are not as severe as the consequences of a criminal conviction. Nevertheless, they bear
some similarities, particularly in terms of reputational injury. Certainly stigmatization as a sex
offender can be a harsh consequence for an individual who has not been convicted of any crime,
and who was not afforded the procedural protections of criminal proceedings.
There are, however, other substantial interests at stake. Courts must be “chary about
interfering with academic and disciplinary decisions made by private colleges and universities.”
Schaer, 432 Mass. at 478 (quotation and citations omitted). A private university is not a state or
local government, and the courts must recognize and respect the strong interest of a private
university in managing its own affairs. Furthermore, “ensuring allegations of sexual assault on
college campuses are taken seriously is of critical importance, and there is no doubt that
universities have an exceedingly difficult task in handling these issues.” Brown Univ., 2016 WL
715794, at *4.
With that framework in mind, the Court turns to the question of whether the complaint
alleges a plausible claim that Brandeis failed to provide the “basic fairness” to which its students
are entitled. In this context, at least, there are two principal threads to the “fairness” inquiry.
The first is procedural fairness—that is, whether the process used to adjudicate the matter was
sufficient to provide the accused student a fair and reasonable opportunity to defend himself.
The second is substantive fairness—that is, even if the procedure was fair, whether the decision
was unduly arbitrary or irrational, or tainted by bias or other unfairness.

62

a.

Procedural Fairness

The first question is whether the procedures employed by Brandeis met the test of “basic
fairness.” When the school at issue is a public institution, the accused student must, at a
minimum, receive protections consistent with the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth
Amendment. See, e.g., Goss, 419 U.S. at 574-85 (holding that due process requires notice and
opportunity for a hearing where public high school students face suspension of less than ten
days). It is well-established, however, that a private 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, 432 Mass. at 482; Cloud, 720 F.2d at 725; see Rendell-Baker v.
Kohn, 457 U.S. 830, 837-38 (1982). However, courts may refer to those rules in evaluating the
fairness of a particular disciplinary hearing. Cloud, 720 F.2d at 725.
In Cloud, a third-year law student was charged with misconduct for looking under the
skirts of female students in the school’s library. 720 F.2d at 723. In a subsequent civil suit,
Cloud challenged the fairness of the process used in his case. Id. at 724. Under the university’s
rules, Cloud was afforded a hearing in front of an impartial panel at which he was represented by
counsel, and had the opportunity to cross-examine the witnesses against him. Id. at 723. The
First Circuit found that the process afforded Cloud comported with basic fairness but did not
attempt to identify which procedures, if any, were necessary to a finding that the process was
“fair.”
Similarly, in Walker v. President & Fellows of Harvard College, 82 F. Supp. 3d 524, 532
(D. Mass. 2014), the court found that the disciplinary process used in the case of a law student
charged with plagiarism comported with basic fairness where the charged student “had notice of
and understood the charges,” had a hearing before a board, and was represented by an attorney

63

who was allowed to call witnesses, present evidence, cross-examine witnesses, and argue on the
student’s behalf. Again, however, the Court did not attempt to identify any specific individual
protections that must be afforded the accused in order for a disciplinary to be considered fair. 30
Here, Brandeis failed to provide a variety of procedural protections to John, many of
which, in the criminal context, are the most basic and fundamental components of due process of
law.
(1)

No Right to Notice of Charges

Brandeis did not require J.C. to provide a “full account” or “thorough statement” of the
charges, and never provided such a statement to John. 31 Instead, John was expected to defend
himself against the vague and open-ended charge that he had “numerous inappropriate,
nonconsensual sexual interactions” with J.C. from September 2011 to May 2013. 32
Under the circumstances, the lack of specific notice of the charges may have been
particularly prejudicial. This was not a dispute about a single isolated event; it involved a
lengthy and apparently tangled relationship that went on for nearly two years. Brandeis’s failure
to inform John of the details of the charges appears to have had a significant adverse effect on his

30

In Bleiler v. College of the Holy Cross, 2013 WL 4714340 (D. Mass. Aug. 26, 2013), a case involving
the expulsion of a student who was found guilty of sexual assault, the court found that the university was not liable
for breach of contract, but did not address the “basic fairness” prong of the analytical framework.
31
As noted, the university’s procedures required only that an administrator “suggest” that such a statement
be prepared. It is not clear, at this stage of the litigation, whether such a suggestion was made to J.C. In any event,
the complaint alleges that J.C. at some point provided “substantially more information” to university administrators,
and that the additional information was not provided to John.
32

The right to reasonable notice of the charges in a criminal proceeding is set forth in both the Sixth
Amendment to the United States Constitution and the Massachusetts Declaration of Rights. U.S. Const. amend. VI
(“In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right . . . to be informed of the nature and cause of the
accusation . . . .”); Mass. Const. Pt. 1, art. XII (“No subject shall be held to answer for any crimes or offence, until
the same is fully and plainly, substantially and formally, described to him . . . .”); see also In re Oliver, 333 U.S.
257, 273 (1948) (“A person’s right to reasonable notice of a charge against him . . . [is] basic in our system of
jurisprudence”); Fed. R. Crim. P. 7 (requiring that an indictment contain “the essential facts constituting the offense
charged”).

64

ability to prepare a defense. For example, the Special Examiner’s findings were substantially
influenced by her conclusion that J.C. was the more credible party. According to the Report, J.C.
provided “1) consistent statements regarding each alleged incident, not wavering from the initial
description of the incidents; and 2) a consistent theme linking many of the alleged incidents.”
(Special Examiner’s Report at 15). In contrast, the Special Examiner found that John was
inconsistent in his recollection of certain events. Such a discrepancy, however, is exactly what
one would expect where one party is fully informed of the subject matter of the inquiry and the
other remains ignorant, and has to surmise the specifics of the charges over the course of the
investigation.
In Fellheimer v. Middlebury College, 869 F. Supp. 238 (D. Vt. 1994), a student was
charged with both rape and the separate offense of “disrespect of persons.” Id. at 245. The
student, however, was informed only of the rape charge, and was never informed of the existence
of the disrespect charge or of the alleged conduct underlying that charge. Id. The court found
that the disciplinary hearing was “fundamentally unfair” and that it was “impossible” for
Fellheimer to defend himself against the charge. Id. at 246-47.
There is little practical difference between a school failing to inform the accused of the
charge against him or, as here, having informed him of the formal charge, refusing to provide
him with the specific factual conduct alleged to have given rise to the charge. At a minimum, it
the failure to provide John with notice of the specific charges against him may have substantially
impaired the fairness of the proceeding.
(2)

No Right to Counsel

Brandeis did not permit John to have counsel in connection with the Special Examiner’s
investigation, either to participate actively or to render passive advice. Compare Cloud, 720

65

F.2d at 723 (student permitted to be represented by counsel at university hearing); Walker, 82 F.
Supp. 3d at 532 (same). 33
The proceeding was not, of course, conducted in a court of law, according to the rules of
procedure and evidence. Nonetheless, Brandeis engaged an outside attorney, presumably with
years of experience and training, to investigate and prosecute serious charges of sexual assault
and other sexual misconduct. But it expected a student, approximately 21 years old, with no
legal training or background, to defend himself, alone, against those same charges.
(3)

No Right to Confront Accuser

Brandeis did not permit John to confront or cross-examine J.C., either directly or through
counsel. 34 Presumably, the purpose of that limitation was to spare J.C. the experience of being
subject to cross-examination. 35 While protection of victims of sexual assault from unnecessary
harassment is a laudable goal, the elimination of such a basic protection for the rights of the
accused raises profound concerns.

33

The right to counsel in a criminal proceeding is likewise set forth in both the federal and state
constitutions. U.S. Const. amend. VI (“In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right . . . to have the
Assistance of Counsel for his defence.”); Mass. Const. Pt. 1, art. XII (“. . . every subject shall have a right . . . to be
fully heard in his defence by himself, or his council, at his election.”); see also Powell v. Alabama, 287 U.S. 45, 6769 (1932) (“The right to be heard would be, in many cases, of little avail if it did not comprehend the right to be
heard by counsel”); Gideon v. Wainwright, 372 U.S. 335, 344 (1963) (“The right of one charged with crime to
counsel may not be deemed fundamental and essential to fair trials in some countries, but it is in ours.”).
34
The right to confront one’s accuser is likewise guaranteed in both the federal and state constitutions.
U.S. Const. amend. VI (“In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right . . . to be confronted with the
witnesses against him . . . .”); Mass. Const. Pt. 1, art. XII (“[E]very subject shall have a right . . . to meet the
witnesses against him face to face . . . .”); see generally Crawford v. Washington, 541 U.S. 36, 43-45 (2004); State
v. Webb, 2 N.C. 103, 104 (Super. L. & Eq. 1794) (“[I]t is a rule of the common law, founded on natural justice, that
no man shall be prejudiced by evidence which he had not the liberty to cross examine.”).
35

Such a limitation is expressly set out in the April 2011 “Dear Colleague Letter”:

OCR strongly discourages schools from allowing the parties personally to question or crossexamine each other during the hearing. Allowing an alleged perpetrator to question an alleged
victim directly may be traumatic or intimidating, thereby possibly escalating or perpetuating a
hostile environment.
(Dear Colleague Letter at 12).

66

In the famous words of John Henry Wigmore, cross-examination is “beyond any doubt
the greatest legal engine ever invented for the discovery of truth.” 3 Wigmore, Evidence § 1367,
p. 27 (2d ed. 1923). The ability to cross-examine is most critical when the issue is the credibility
of the accuser. See Donohue v. Baker, 976 F. Supp. 136, 147 (N.D.N.Y. 1997) (“[I]f a case is
essentially one of credibility, the ‘cross-examination of witnesses might [be] essential to a fair
hearing.’”) (quoting Winnick v. Manning, 460 F.2d 545, 550 (2d Cir. 1972)).
Here, there were essentially no third-party witnesses to any of the events in question, and
there does not appear to have been any contemporary corroborating evidence. The entire
investigation thus turned on the credibility of the accuser and the accused. Under the
circumstances, the lack of an opportunity for cross-examination may have had a very substantial
effect on the fairness of the proceeding.
(4)

No Right to Cross-Examine Witnesses

As noted, Brandeis prohibited John from confronting and cross-examining J.C.
Brandeis, however, likewise did not permit the cross-examination of other witnesses, who
presumably would not be traumatized by the experience. While there were no actual third-party
witnesses to any of the alleged acts of sexual misconduct, the Special Examiner nonetheless
interviewed, and relied to some degree, on the testimony of witnesses other than J.C. John was
not provided an opportunity to cross-examine any of those witnesses, or indeed to be advised of
the substance of their testimony.
(5)

No Right to Examine Evidence or Witness Statements

It is unclear whether J.C. ever provided any corroborating evidence (such as, for
example, contemporaneous texts or e-mails) to the Special Examiner. If he did, Brandeis did not
give John access to it, and there was nothing in the 2013-14 Handbook that permitted him such

67

access. 36
The Special Examiner did interview third-party witnesses, four of whom were identified
by J.C. (Am. Compl. ¶ 91). John had no opportunity to review any statements they may have
provided. It is unclear whether any witnesses gave statements that were formally transcribed or
recorded, or whether the Special Examiner prepared any interview memoranda. John requested
copies of all the “interview notes taken by the Special Examiner and Observer,” which Brandeis
refused to provide. (Am. Compl. ¶¶ 138-39). 37
(6)

Impairment of Right to Call Witnesses and Present
Evidence

If John had received fair notice of the allegations, and if Brandeis had conducted a
hearing, John would (presumably) have had an opportunity to present his own evidence in
response to J.C.’s charges. (See 2013-14 Handbook § 19.10 (in a normal student disciplinary
process at Brandeis, the accused student has the right to “present witnesses on their behalf”)).
Under the Special Examiner Process, however, John was not informed of the details of the case
against him until after the Special Examiner had prepared her Report, when a summary of that
Report was read aloud to him. (Am. Compl. ¶¶ 96-101).
John then attempted, unsuccessfully, to submit additional evidence; the complaint alleges
that after the reading of the summary, he supplied “additional facts, names of additional

36

See Fed. R. Crim. P. 16 (requiring the government to provide a criminal defendant with documents
obtained during discovery that are “material to preparing the defense”).
37

According to the complaint,

John needed the full Report and underlying interview notes in order to be apprised of all of the
facts contained in the Report, including exactly what it is that J.C. said about him, what J.C.’s
witnesses said, the weight the Special Examiner gave to the parties’ and witnesses’ interview
statements, and a full understanding of the factual and legal bases for the Special Examiner’s
findings. The Summary given to John lacked this information.
(Am. Compl. ¶ 139).

68

witnesses, and his sworn affidavit” to Boes, but that she “refused to refer any of John’s
additional facts, witnesses, or affidavit to the Special Examiner for further consideration.” (Id.
¶¶ 131, 133). It specifically alleges that among the information John provided to Boes was “the
names of witnesses who would have attested to the fact that J.C. humorously recounted the
Movie Incident to mutual friends throughout the [r]elationship.” (Id. ¶ 110).
(7)

No Access to Special Examiner’s Report

Brandeis did not provide John with a copy of the Special Examiner’s Report until the
entire proceeding was concluded. He was thus forced to defend himself in the sanctions phase of
the proceeding, and to prepare his appeal, without access to the very document in which his guilt
was determined. During the sanctions and appeals part of the proceeding, the Special
Examiner—and every administrator and faculty member who determined John’s fate—had
access to the Report. John, however, did not. 38
As noted, John has a plausible contractual claim under the Handbook that he had an
enforceable right of access to that Report. The Handbook, however, does not expressly address
the issue, and certainly does not provide John with a right to timely access to that report in order
to defend himself.
(8)

No Separation of Investigatory, Prosecution, and
Adjudication Functions

Under the Special Examiner Process, a single individual was essentially vested with the
powers of an investigator, prosecutor, judge, and jury. Furthermore, those decisions were not
reviewable except as to certain narrowly defined categories.

38
In a criminal proceeding, such secrecy would be at odds with the most basic principles of justice and fair
play. See Oliver, 333 U.S. at 257 (reversing contempt conviction where proceeding was conducted hastily and in
secret, and defendant did not have a fair opportunity to be informed of the charge and refute the evidence against
him).

69

The dangers of combining in a single individual the power to investigate, prosecute, and
convict, with little effective power of review, are obvious. 39 No matter how well-intentioned,
such a person may have preconceptions and biases, may make mistakes, and may reach
premature conclusions. The dangers of such a process can be considerably mitigated if there is
effective review by a neutral party, but here that right of review was substantially circumscribed.
(9)

No Right to Effective Appeal

The Special Examiner process, as set forth in the 2013-14 Handbook permitted an appeal
on only four grounds: fraud, “denial of rights under this process,” “procedural error,” or “the
claim of new evidence not previously available, which would have materially affected the
decision.” (2013-14 Handbook § 22.6 at 33). Conspicuously absent from that list is the ability
to appeal on the ground that the Special Examiner’s decision was not supported by the evidence,
or that it was otherwise unfair, unwise, or simply wrong. The Special Examiner, for all practical
purposes, had the first and only say in determining John’s guilt.
(10)

Burden of Proof

The standard of proof in sexual misconduct cases at Brandeis is proof by a
“preponderance of the evidence.” For virtually all other forms of alleged misconduct at
Brandeis, the more demanding standard of proof by “clear and convincing evidence” is
employed. The selection of a lower standard (presumably, at the insistence of the United States
Department of Education) is not problematic, standing alone; that standard is commonly used in
civil proceedings, even to decide matters of great importance. Here, however, the lowering of

39
In a criminal proceeding, vesting a single person with such a great quantity of aggregated power would
violate due process. See Oliver, 333 U.S. at 278-79 (Rutledge, J. concurring) (“Michigan’s one-man grand
jury . . . combines in a single official the historically separate powers of grand jury, committing magistrate,
prosecutor, trial judge and petit jury. This aggregated authority denies to the accused not only the right to a public
trial, but also those other basic protections secured by the Sixth Amendment . . . .”).

70

the standard appears to have been a deliberate choice by the university to make cases of sexual
misconduct easier to prove—and thus more difficult to defend, both for guilty and innocent
students alike. It retained the higher standard for virtually all other forms of student misconduct.
The lower standard may thus be seen, in context, as part of an effort to tilt the playing field
against accused students, which is particularly troublesome in light of the elimination of other
basic rights of the accused.
(11)

Conclusion

Again, this was not a criminal proceeding, and Brandeis is not a governmental entity.
Nonetheless, the stakes were very high. John was charged with serious offenses that carry the
potential for substantial public condemnation and disgrace. He was required to defend himself in
what was essentially an inquisitorial proceeding that plausibly failed to provide him with a fair
and reasonable opportunity to be informed of the charges and to present an adequate defense. He
was ultimately found “responsible,” and received a penalty that may permanently scar his life
and career. Under the circumstances, the complaint plausibly alleges that the procedures
employed by Brandeis did not provide him with the “basic fairness” to which he was entitled.
That decision is based on the entirety of the procedures employed by Brandeis, given the
nature of the charges and the circumstances of the case. It is not necessary for the Court to
decide what the bare minimum might be—that is, how many procedural protections Brandeis
could have removed and still provided “basic fairness” to the accused—or whether any particular
procedural protection was required under the circumstances of this case. Nor is it necessary to
decide what procedures might be appropriate in a different type of university proceeding, with
less serious charges and less substantial consequences, or involving matters more closely related
to core academic functions. See Gabrilowitz v. Newman, 582 F.2d 100, 104-05 (1st Cir. 1978)

71

(discussing right to counsel in public school disciplinary matters); see also Gorman v. University
of Rhode Island, 837 F.2d 7, 16 (1st Cir. 1988) (same); Winnick v. Manning, 460 F.2d 545, 54950 (2d Cir. 1972) (discussing right of cross-examination in school disciplinary matters).
Finally, and to repeat, the Court is not deciding the merits of the case—in particular,
whether John in fact committed any form of sexual misconduct. It is simply ruling that the
complaint plausibly alleges a violation of the “basic fairness” to which John was entitled, and
therefore states a claim upon which relief can be granted.
b.

Substantive Fairness

Because the procedures employed by Brandeis did not afford the accused “basic
fairness,” the substantive result reached as a result of that process is open to serious doubt.
However, the complaint also raises serious concerns as to the substantive result, even if one
assumes that the process itself was otherwise procedurally fair.
One of the most basic components of fairness is an unbiased and neutral fact-finder.
Accused students are entitled to have their cases decided on the merits—on the particular facts of
the case, set in the proper context—and not according to the application of unfair generalizations
or stereotypes or because of social or other pressures to reach a certain result.
The complaint alleges that the Special Examiner based her findings on “novel notions of
consent, sexual harassment, and physical harm” that “are at odds with traditional legal and
cultural norms and definitions.” (Am. Compl. ¶ 18). It further alleges that her findings “ignored
the context of a romantic, dating relationship, and were not supported by the evidence.” (Id.; see
also id. ¶ 33 (alleging that the Special Examiner’s findings “could not be squared with the
evidence, and elevated commonplace, everyday interactions in a nearly two-year consensual
relationship into serious sexual transgressions”)). And it further alleges that “[u]nlawful gender

72

and sexual orientation stereotyping infuses the Special Examiner’s Report.” (Id. ¶ 215). Finally,
it alleges as follows:
The Special Examiner approached the Relationship as if John was the Dominant
Male Aggressor and J.C. was the Submissive Female Victim, stereotypes derived
from heterosexual culture. Those stereotypes would be inappropriate in any
sexual misconduct investigation, but clearly they did not apply to John’s and
J.C.’s Relationship. It was undisputed that J.C. was out of the closet and sexually
experienced, but John had not had any sexual contact with a man and was not sure
of his sexual orientation when they met; J.C. broke up with John for not being
“forceful” enough with him; and John’s alleged conduct involved commonplace
sexual activity. Nothing in the evidence suggested that J.C. was weak, passive, or
dominated by John, but that female-male heterosexual stereotype was imposed on
John throughout the Special Examiner’s Report. The Special Examiner should
have known that closeted gay men are not in a dominant position to “pressure”
openly gay men who are sexually experienced into an unwanted sexual
relationship.
(Id. ¶ 216).
There are few things in life as complex as a long-term relationship. It is perhaps
impossible to expect anyone to plunge into the labyrinth of a lengthy emotional and sexual
relationship between two young adults and hope to emerge with a clear understanding of what
happened and why. Here, however, there is reason to believe that the Special Examiner decided
John’s guilt to a substantial degree on unfair generalizations, stereotypes, or logical fallacies, and
that the basic fairness of the proceeding was affected by that fact. A few examples will suffice.
(1)

The Significance of the Delay in Reporting

The first alleged sexual assault, the “movie incident,” is alleged to have occurred in
September 2011. At the time, both J.C. and John were incoming freshmen; John was 17 years
old and J.C. was 18. J.C. did not report the “assault” at the time to anyone. The two apparently
had sexual relations the very next day, and soon thereafter embarked on a 21-month-long
romantic relationship, during which they appeared, to their friends, to be happy and comfortable
together. The complaint alleges, and the Special Examiner’s Report does not appear to dispute,
73

that J.C. never complained or reported any incidents of sexual misconduct at any point during
that relationship. (See Am. Compl. ¶ 11).
After they broke up, in July 2013, J.C. waited another six months to file his accusations.
In the meantime, J.C. and John had undergone an unhappy deterioration of their friendship; J.C.
had begun abusing alcohol; and J.C. had attended two sessions of “sexual assault training” that
(J.C. contends) made him start “thinking” about whether he had been sexually abused. (Special
Examiner’s Report at 13). Finally, in January 2014—two and one-half years after the incident—
J.C. alleged for the first time that he had been the victim of multiple sexual assaults.
It is true, of course, as the Special Examiner noted, that “sexual misconduct does occur in
dating relationships and that such conduct can occur for years.” (Id. at 16). It is also true, as she
noted, that individuals may “underreport incidents of intimate partner violence to friends and
family due to a number of reasons, including shame and embarrassment,” or “because they do
not perceive unwanted sexual contact with an intimate partner as coercive.” (Id.). But surely
“basic fairness” requires more than the rote recitation of generalizations about the way some
victims of sexual misconduct sometimes react.
Why did J.C. enter into a sexual and romantic relationship with John immediately after
the first alleged assault, and stay with him for 21 months? Why did he not complain about, or
report, any misconduct for that entire period? It is certainly possible, of course, that the Special
Examiner was correct, and J.C. did not report the misconduct out of shame or embarrassment.
But it is also possible that J.C. was not remembering matters accurately; that would
hardly be surprising after the passage of two years. Human memories are transient, and subject
to substantial modifications and degradation over time. Moreover, they are readily susceptible to
such factors as hindsight bias (that is, the influence of one’s current perceptions, knowledge, and

74

state of mind) and suggestibility (that is, the influence of suggestion, express and implicit, by
others). It is possible that J.C.’s memories were colored by anger or hostility to John that arose
after the breakup. It is possible that his sexual assault training had a suggestive effect on his
memory, causing him to subconsciously reinterpret his memories. 40 Or it is possible that his
subsequent alcohol abuse affected his interpretation of events.
Those possibilities could neither be accepted nor rejected out of hand; they would need to
be carefully considered by a neutral fact-finder, not decided on the basis of unfair
generalizations. If the Special Examiner considered those issues, it is not reflected in her
report. 41
(2)

The Significance of the Relationship

The central factual question in the Special Examiner’s investigation was consent;
specifically, whether J.C. communicated consent to John “verbally or through actions.” (201112 Handbook § 3.3). 42 “Generally[,] sexual acts with consent are just sex. Therefore, the
definition of sexual assault turns completely on the meaning of consent . . . .” Jacob E. Gerson &
Jeannie Suk, The Sex Bureaucracy, 104 Cal. L. Rev. (forthcoming) at 10.
As noted, the Special Examiner’s Report entirely dismissed the significance of the longterm relationship in evaluating John’s behavior, on the ground that “sexual misconduct does

40
The Special Examiner noted that victims of sexual assault may not “perceive” unwanted sexual contact
with a partner to be “coercive” at the time. (Special Examiner’s Report at 16). That may well be true in some
instances, but surely considerable caution should be exercised in applying that principle to make present-day
judgments about past events. If neither partner perceived the conduct to be improper at the time, the potential for
unfairness is acute where one partner changes his perception, in hindsight, nearly two years after the fact.
41

A lengthy delay in reporting could also adversely affect the ability of the accused to defend himself, as
evidence (such as contemporaneous text messages) may not have been preserved.
42

Thus, whether J.C. inwardly disliked a particular sexual interaction at the time, or regretted it afterward,
is significant only to the extent that his feelings were communicated to John—in other words, whether John knew or
reasonably should have known that J.C. consented.

75

occur in dating relationships and such conduct can occur for years.” 43 Of course, it is true that
rape or other forms of sexual assault can occur in the context of a long-term relationship, and it
can occur for years. Of course, the existence of such a relationship is not a license to engage in
sexual misconduct. But surely the question of consent is strongly affected by the nature of the
relationship between the parties; it is absurd to suggest that it makes no difference whatsoever
whether the other party is a total stranger or a long-term partner in an apparently happy
relationship.
Normally, over the course of a long relationship, the parties develop implicit and explicit
understandings that affect their behavior, including certain forms of non-verbal consent. Actions
that might be inappropriate between strangers or casual acquaintances may be viewed entirely
differently by long-term partners. Again, the existence of a relationship does not give someone
the right to commit sexual assault. But neither is it meaningless and irrelevant when evaluating
the question of consent.
The Special Examiner’s findings concerning the “kissing” incidents are particularly
noteworthy. The Special Examiner concluded that John had occasionally awakened J.C. with
kisses, and had sometimes continued to try to kiss him after J.C. said he wanted to go back to
sleep. She further concluded that those actions were acts of “violence.” To reach that result, she
essentially stitched together a series of broad generalizations—kissing is sexual activity; a
sleeping person is physically incapacitated and therefore cannot give consent; the existence of a
relationship is not relevant to consent; sexual activity without consent is sexual misconduct;
sexual misconduct is a form of violence—to reach a conclusion that seems at odds with common

43

The 2011-12 Handbook provides that “[p]rior sexual activity or an existing acquaintance, friendship, or
relationship that has been sexual in nature does not constitute consent for the continuation or renewal of sexual
activity.” (2011-12 Handbook § 3.3).

76

sense and the ordinary meanings and definitions of words.
In short, the existence of a relationship was unquestionably a central issue in assessing
John’s behavior and resolving the issue of consent. The existence of a relationship did not
immunize John from the consequences of any improper behavior. But neither should it have
been dismissed out of hand simply on the basis of a broad generalization that sexual misconduct
can, and sometimes does, occur in the context of a relationship.
(3)

The Significance of J.C.’s Abuse of Alcohol

The Special Examiner concluded that J.C. had begun to abuse alcohol after he broke up
with John, and that his use of alcohol “strengthen[ed] his credibility that he experienced
unwanted sexual contact.” (Special Examiner’s Report at 16). Her stated basis for that
conclusion was that “[a] study of physical and sexual abuse found that past or recent occurrence
of assault is associated with significantly increased rates of reported alcohol use.” (Id. at 15).
According to the complaint, the Special Examiner “relied on a single, hearsay research
study in the 1990s reporting significantly increased rates of alcohol use among women (not men)
after recent occurrences of sexual assault as ‘probative’ that J.C. probably had experienced
unwanted sexual conduct.” (Am. Compl. ¶ 125).
The Special Examiner ignored the information supplied by one of John’s
witnesses that J.C. began drinking at his grandmother’s funeral, two months after
J.C. and John broke up, and the undisputed fact that J.C. grew up in a severely
dysfunctional, alcoholic family, suggesting that J.C.’s resort to alcohol was
triggered by family history and events, not by unwanted sexual activity with John.
(Id. ¶ 126) (emphasis in original).
Even assuming that the research study was valid, its use in this circumstance was
certainly open to question. The Special Examiner may have engaged in a classic post hoc
fallacy, reasoning that because the alcohol abuse occurred after the breakup of the relationship, it

77

must have been caused by the relationship. J.C.’s abuse of alcohol may have been a direct
product of sexual misconduct by John, or it may have been the product of a variety of different
factors. It was an issue that should have been approached with considerable care, and not simply
by the application of broad generalizations or post hoc reasoning.
(4)

Conclusion

The Court need not decide whether the substantive analysis of the Special
Examiner, apart from any procedural shortcomings, denied John the “basic fairness” to which he
was entitled. It is sufficient for these purposes to note that the possible substantive shortcomings
reinforce the conclusion that the procedures followed did not provide basic fairness, and that
therefore Brandeis plausibly could be found liable for breach of contract. Again, and to be clear,
the Court is making no finding that the conclusions of the Special Examiner are incorrect as a
factual matter. The question at present is simply whether the complaint plausibly alleges that the
fact-finding process and its result violated the contractual relationship. Based on plausible
allegations of a denial of “basic fairness,” the answer to that question is in the affirmative.
3.

Summary of Breach of Contract Claims

In summary, to the extent that Count One alleges breach of contract based on
(1) Brandeis’s alleged failure to provide John with a copy of the Special Examiner’s Report;
(2) its alleged failure to maintain the confidentiality of his educational record; and (3) its alleged
failure to provide him with basic fairness in the disciplinary process, defendant’s motion to
dismiss will be denied. The motion will be granted as to the remaining claims of breach of
contract.
B.

Breach of the Implied Covenant of Good Faith and Fair Dealing

Count Two asserts a claim for breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair

78

dealing. Under Massachusetts law, a covenant of good faith and fair dealing is implied in every
contract. UNO Rests., Inc. v. Boston Kenmore Realty Corp., 441 Mass. 376, 385 (2004). The
covenant provides that “neither party shall do anything that will have the effect of destroying or
injuring the rights of the other party to receive the fruits of the contract.” Anthony’s Pier Four,
Inc. v. HBC Assocs., 411 Mass. 451, 471 (1991) (quotations omitted).
The implied covenant may not be invoked to create rights and duties not contemplated by
the provisions of the contract or the contractual relationship. Uno Rests., 441 Mass. at 385;
AccuSoft Corp. v. Palo, 237 F.3d 31, 45 (1st Cir. 2001). However, a party may breach the
covenant of good faith and fair dealing without breaching any express term of that contract. See
Fortune v. National Cash Register Co., 373 Mass. 96, 101 (1977). Otherwise, the implied
covenant would be a mere redundancy. The essential inquiry is whether the challenged conduct
conformed to the parties’ reasonable understanding of performance obligations, as reflected in
the overall spirit of the bargain, not whether the defendant abided by the letter of the contract in
the course of performance.
The nature of the university-student relationship under Massachusetts law appears to be
somewhat unique and not necessarily tied to ordinary principles of contract law. Among other
things, it is unclear whether the two-pronged test for analyzing a university-student contractual
relationship (that is, whether the “reasonable expectation” of the student was met and the
proceeding was conducted with “basic fairness”) derives from the implied covenant or some
other source.
In any event, the allegations of the complaint here are sufficient to state a claim for
breach of the implied covenant. The complaint alleges, in substance, that Brandeis did not
conform to the parties’ reasonable understanding of the performance obligations, as reflected in

79

the overall spirit of the bargain, even if Brandeis technically complied with the letter of the
Handbook. Accordingly, Count Two states a claim for breach of the implied covenant of good
faith and fair dealing.
C.

Estoppel and Reliance

Count Three asserts a count for estoppel and detrimental reliance, essentially contending
that (1) the “various standards, policies, and procedures” of Brandeis “constitute representations
and promises that Brandeis expected or should have reasonably expected would induce action or
forbearance by John.” (Am. Compl. ¶ 227). In his memorandum, John contends that this count
is based on representations and promises that are not contained in the Handbook, and gives a
single example: the alleged promise by Brandeis “to ensure that members of the Appeals Board
had no conflicts of interest.” (Pl. Mem. 29).
Essentially, this count asserts a claim for promissory estoppel. 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. See, e.g., Trent Partners & Assocs., Inc. v. Digital Equip.
Corp., 120 F. Supp. 2d 84, 104-05 (D. Mass. 1999) (“[T]he Supreme Judicial Court [has] held as
a matter of law that an oral statement made in the face of a written contract was not a ‘promise’
or ‘commitment’ for promissory estoppel purposes because the existence of a written contract
demonstrated the parties’ intention that it would govern their intricate transaction.” (citing Rhode
Island Hosp. Trust Nat’l Bank v. Varadian, 419 Mass. 841, 850 (1995))). It is true that plaintiffs
may plead causes of action in the alternative. Here, however, John is seeking to use promissory
estoppel to fill in one or more of the gaps in the contract itself, rather than asserting an
alternative theory of liability. Under the circumstances, that is not permitted. See Brown Univ.,
2016 WL 715794, at *15. Count Three accordingly fails to state a claim upon which relief can

80

be granted.
D.

Negligence

Count Four asserts a claim for common-law negligence. The complaint asserts that
Brandeis was negligent in (1) choosing Boes as the final decision-maker for John’s case and
(2) failing to conduct a proper conflicts check with respect to the Appeals Board. In his
memorandum, John alleges a third theory, that Brandeis negligently breached its “duty to keep
John’s education record confidential by violating FERPA in leaking information about John’s
disciplinary proceedings to third parties.” (Pl. Mem. 30) (footnote omitted).
1.

Negligent Retention and Supervision

Massachusetts recognizes a cause of action for negligent supervision or retention of an
employee. “Negligent retention [or supervision] occurs when, during the course of employment,
the employer becomes aware or should have become aware of problems with an employee that
indicated his unfitness, and the employer fails to take further action such as investigating,
discharge or reassignment.” Foster v. Loft, Inc., 26 Mass. App. Ct. 289, 291-92 (1988) (quoting
Garcia v. Duffy, 492 So. 2d 435, 438-39 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1986)).
Although the case law sometimes describes negligent retention and negligent supervision
as two separate torts, it is more accurate to think of negligent retention as falling under the
umbrella of negligent supervision. See Great No. Ins. Co. v. Paino Assocs., 364 F. Supp. 2d 7,
20 (D. Mass. 2005) (“‘Negligent supervision’ is probably a more accurate label for the tort of
negligent retention, because in some situations the appropriate course of action for an employer
is to dismiss an employee and in other situations it may be more appropriate to reassign that
employee or take some other course of action.”)
Brandeis first contends that the claim must be dismissed because John, by virtue of his

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student status, had a private contractual relationship with the school. “The torts of negligent
hiring, retention, and supervision ordinarily relate to situations where ‘employees are brought
into contact with members of the public in the course of an employer's business.’” Vicarelli v.
Business Int’l, Inc., 973 F. Supp. 241, 246 (D. Mass. 1997) (quoting Foster, 26 Mass. App. Ct. at
290). Brandeis’s position is that because John was a Brandeis student and had a private
contractual relationship with the school, he is not properly considered a member of the public.
The existence of a private contractual relationship between the parties, however, does not
necessarily mean that the plaintiff is no longer a member of the “public” for the purposes of a
negligent retention or supervision claim. See, e.g., Copithorne v. Framingham Union Hosp., 401
Mass. 860 (1988) (holding defendant-hospital not entitled to summary judgment on plaintiffpatient’s claim for negligent retention of physician). Thus John’s status as a student does not
necessarily preclude his negligence claim.
Brandeis also contends that John’s negligent retention and supervision claim should be
dismissed because it fails to allege any facts demonstrating that Brandeis knew, or should have
known, that Boes had a propensity to commit procedural errors in handling disciplinary
proceedings. Brandeis relies on Vicarelli v. Business International, Inc., which held that a
plaintiff must allege that an employer knew or should have known that the employee had a
“proclivity to commit the complained-of acts.” 973 F. Supp. at 246-47 (citing Foster, 26 Mass.
App. Ct. at 291). Brandeis’s reasoning implies that because Boes had never overseen a Special
Examiner’s Process before, she necessarily could not have made previous errors from which
Brandeis would have been put on notice of her “proclivity” to do so.
It is true that Foster held that a plaintiff may show that a defendant employer should have
foreseen an employee’s negligence based on the employee’s prior acts or omissions. See Foster,

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26 Mass. App. Ct. at 295. But it is not true that, as Brandeis suggests, John must allege prior bad
acts in order to bring his claim for negligent supervision. Instead, under Foster, John needs only
to allege facts that, if true, would show that Brandeis should have known there were “problems”
with Boes indicating her “unfitness” to oversee John’s case, but failed to take further action. Id.
at 291-92.
John alleges that Boes was unfit to oversee his case because she was unfamiliar with the
Special Examiner’s Process, had never served as a final decision-maker before, and was selected
only because the Dean of Students (who would normally serve as the final decision-maker) had
recused himself. (Am. Compl. ¶¶ 233-34). An employer may be negligent where it assigns
employees to positions or duties with which they had no previous experience or training. See,
e.g., Grote v. Meyers Land & Cattle Co., 485 N.W. 2d 748, 756 (Neb. 1992) (ranch owneremployer’s knowledge that 16-year-old boy had no experience in handling colts relevant to
finding employer negligent where colt kicked boy in the head); Welsh Mfg., Div. of Textron, Inc.
v. Pinkerton’s, Inc., 474 A.2d 436 (R.I. 1984) (jury could find employer negligent in failing to
supervise or prepare employee for assigned task).
Even taking the facts in the complaint as true, that appears to be a dubious claim; placing
a university administrator in the role of a decision-maker is a far cry from entrusting a complex
or dangerous task to an untrained individual. Nonetheless, for present purposes, it is at least
plausible that Brandeis was negligent in appointing Boes as the final decision-maker in John’s
case. Whether the evidence will support such a claim is a question for another day.
2.

Negligent Failure to Prevent Conflict of Interest

The complaint also alleges that Brandeis breached its duty of care to John by failing to
conduct a proper conflicts check with respect to the members of the Appeals Board. Brandeis

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contends that this claim fails because it had no specific duty to John; even if it did have such a
duty, that there was no breach; and even if there was a breach, there is no basis to conclude that it
caused the alleged injury. John did not address those contentions in his memorandum in
response, and accordingly has waived his rights with regard to that claim.
3.

Breach of Duty to Maintain Confidentiality of Educational Record

In his memoranda, John further contends that his negligence claim is based on the
complaint’s allegation that Brandeis leaked or allowed J.C. to leak confidential information
about the Special Examiner’s findings, which Doe contends Brandeis had a duty to protect under
FERPA, 20 U.S.C. § 1232g. That claim, however, is not set out in the amended complaint, and
accordingly has not been properly asserted in this case.
E.

Defamation

Count Five of the complaint asserts a claim for defamation on two separate grounds.
First, the complaint alleges that Brandeis defamed John by leaking information regarding the
Special Examiner’s findings to third-parties. Second, the complaint alleges that Brandeis aided
and abetted J.C.’s defamation of John by failing to correct J.C.’s public accusations against John
that Brandeis knew were false.
1.

Defamation Generally

To establish a defamation claim under Massachusetts law, a plaintiff must show (1) that
the defendant made a statement concerning the plaintiff to a third party; (2) that the statement
could damage the plaintiff's reputation in the community; (3) that the defendant was at fault in
making the statement; and (4) that the statement either caused the plaintiff economic loss or is
actionable without proof of economic loss. Shay v. Walters, 702 F.3d 76, 81 (1st Cir. 2012)
(citing Ravnikar v. Bogojavlensky, 438 Mass. 627, 629-30 (2003) (quotations omitted)).

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The complaint alleges that Brandeis intentionally leaked the Special Examiner’s findings
to two different third parties, John’s then-current and prospective employers. (Am. Compl.
¶ 28). In support of that claim, the complaint asserts that the current employer told John that it
had been “made aware” of his situation at Brandeis from “several sources.” (Id. ¶ 200). The
complaint does not further allege who or what the sources were, or the particular information of
which the employer had been made aware.
John contends that the fact that the current employer identified “several” sources means
that the information could not have come from just J.C. This does not mean, however, that
Brandeis was one of the additional sources. 44 Although the complaint need not allege facts
sufficient to show a probability that a Brandeis administrator was a source, it must still show
“more than a sheer possibility” that Brandeis acted unlawfully. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (quoting
Twombly, 550 U.S. at 556).
With regard to the prospective employer, the complaint states only that the prospective
employer had “ties” to Brandeis and stopped responding to John’s e-mails even though it had
promised hire him. (Am. Compl. ¶ 202). The complaint does not include any facts attempting to
identify exactly what “ties” the prospective employer had to Brandeis, nor does it describe how
those ties plausibly lead to a conclusion that Brandies made an actual statement to that
employer. 45 Again, although the existence of ties between the employer and Brandies make it

44

Any additional sources also could have been any of the students or media to whom the complaint alleges
J.C. identified John by name. (Am. Compl. ¶ 191).
45

Although at oral argument plaintiff further clarified that the employer was a public relations firm that had
won Brandeis’s account, the Court is limited at this stage to evaluating the four corners of the complaint and certain
undisputed or critical documents, not statements made at oral argument. See Young v. Lepone, 305 F.3d 1, 10-11
(1st Cir. 2002) (“The fate of a motion to dismiss under Rule 12(b)(6) ordinarily depends on the allegations contained
within the four corners of the plaintiff’s complaint.”).

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possible that Brandies leaked information to the prospective employer, “mere possibility is not
enough to state a claim.” Penalbert-Rosa v. Fortuno-Burset, 631 F.3d 592, 596 (1st Cir. 2011).
2.

Aiding and Abetting Defamation

The complaint further alleges that Brandeis aided and abetted J.C.’s alleged defamation
of John by failing to correct J.C.’s public accusations against John that Brandeis knew were
false. Under Massachusetts law, a defendant may be liable for aiding and abetting a tort where
(1) a third-party committed the relevant tort; (2) the defendant knew the third-party was
committing the tort; and (3) the defendant actively participated in or substantially assisted in the
commission of the tort. Go-Best Assets Ltd. v. Citizens Bank of Mass., 463 Mass. 50, 64 (2012)
(citing Arcidi v. National Ass’n of Gov’t Employees, 447 Mass. 616, 623-24 (2006); Restatement
(Second) of Torts § 876(b) (1977)).
Brandeis does not contend that the complaint fails to allege facts that, if true, would
establish a claim that J.C. committed defamation. The complaint’s allegations that Brandeis was
aware of at least some of J.C.’s statements to the media are also sufficient to establish the second
element of aiding and abetting liability.
However, the complaint alleges no facts at all indicating that Brandeis either “actively
participated in or substantially assisted” J.C. in defaming John. According to the complaint, it
was J.C. who contacted a national publication with his story; J.C. who posted the final outcome
letter on social media; and J.C. who told students and a WBUR reporter that John had “raped”
him. (Am. Compl. ¶¶ 191-96). John argues that Brandeis “allowed J.C. to create a hostile
environment,” presumably by failing to intervene in what John describes as J.C.’s campaign to
defame and harass him. (Pl. Opp. 33). Even if this is true, mere “allowance” of a tort certainly
does not rise to the level of active participation or substantial assistance required under

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Massachusetts law for aiding and abetting liability to attach.
Thus, because the amended complaint fails to allege facts that, if true, would give rise to
liability either for defamation or aiding and abetting defamation, Count Five will be dismissed
for failure to state a claim.
F.

Invasion of Privacy

Count Six asserts a claim for invasion of privacy. Massachusetts has never recognized a
common-law cause of action for invasion of privacy. See Alberts v. Devine, 395 Mass. 59, 70
(1985). To the extent, therefore, that plaintiff’s cause of action for invasion of privacy is based
on state common law, it likewise fails as a matter of law.
The Massachusetts Privacy Act establishes “a right against unreasonable, substantial or
serious interference with . . . privacy.” Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 214, § 1B. The statute protects
individuals from “disclosure of facts . . . that are of a highly personal or intimate nature when
there exists no legitimate, countervailing interest.” Dasey v. Anderson, 304 F.3d 148, 153-54
(1st Cir. 2002) (quoting Bratt v. International Bus. Machs. Corp., 392 Mass. 508, 518 (1984)
(citations omitted)).
As with the defamation claim, John’s claim for invasion of privacy is grounded in his
allegation that Brandeis disclosed information, including the Special Examiner’s findings, to his
then-current and prospective employers. For the reasons set forth above, the amended complaint
does not allege facts giving rise to more than a mere possibility that, even if the findings were
disclosed to John’s employers, it was Brandeis that did so. See Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678 (quoting
Twombly, 550 U.S. at 556). Count Six will therefore be dismissed.
G.

Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress

Count Seven asserts a claim for intentional infliction of emotional distress. In

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Massachusetts, to state such a claim, a plaintiff must allege (1) that the defendant either intended
to inflict emotional distress or knew or should have known that emotional distress was the likely
result of his conduct; (2) that the conduct was extreme and outrageous; (3) that the conduct
caused the plaintiff emotional distress; and (4) that the emotional distress was severe and of a
nature that no reasonable person could be expected to endure it. Agis v. Howard Johnson Co.,
371 Mass. 140, 144-45 (1976).
Specifically, the complaint alleges that Brandeis’s conduct in employing the Special
Examiner’s Process to find John responsible for J.C.’s charges, “effectively labeling him as a
sexual predator,” was extreme and outrageous. (Am. Compl. ¶¶ 254-55). 46
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.” Foley v. Polaroid Corp., 400 Mass.
82, 99 (1987) (quoting Restatement (Second) of Torts § 46, comment d). Although Brandeis’s
actions in John’s case may have been unreasonable and unfair, and a violation of its express or
implied contractual obligations, the bar for asserting an IIED claim is considerably higher. The
facts set out in the complaint, even assuming that they are true, do not appear to constitute the
sort of targeted, deliberate, and malicious conduct that is required for an IIED claim. See
Fellheimer, 869 F. Supp. at 247; Harris v. St. Joseph’s Univ., 2014 WL 1910242, at *11-12
(E.D. Pa. May 13, 2014); see also Doyle v. Hasbro, Inc., 103 F.3d 186, 195 (1st Cir. 1996).
Count Seven will therefore be dismissed for failure to state a claim.

46

In his memorandum, John contends that Brandeis intentionally inflicted emotional distress on him by
defaming him to his employers. (Pl. Opp. 35). However, that claim is not set forth in the complaint; in any event, as
set forth above, the complaint does not plead sufficient facts to state a claim for defamation.

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H.

Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress

Count Eight asserts a claim for negligent infliction of emotional distress. To establish
such a claim, a plaintiff must show “(1) negligence; (2) emotional distress; (3) causation;
(4) physical harm manifested by objective symptomatology; and (5) that a reasonable person
would have suffered emotional distress under the circumstances of the case.” Payton v. Abbott
Labs, 386 Mass. 540, 557 (1982); Sullivan v. Boston Gas Co., 414 Mass. 129, 132 (1993).
Brandeis appears to challenge this claim solely on the ground that the complaint fails to
state a claim for negligence. For the reasons discussed above, the Court has rejected that
challenge. Accordingly, Brandeis’s motion to dismiss with respect to Count Eight will be
denied.
VI.

Conclusion
For the foregoing reasons, Brandeis’s motion to dismiss is GRANTED as to Counts

Three, Five, Six, and Seven; GRANTED as to Count Four, except insofar as it alleges a claim for
negligent supervision; and otherwise DENIED.
So Ordered.

/s/ F. Dennis Saylor
F. Dennis Saylor IV
United States District Judge

Dated: March 31, 2016

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