Armstrong v. James Madison University et al
Filing
26
MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by District Judge Michael F. Urbanski on 6/1/17. (kld)
e ; bpjuù.ai:e i%W e ' i' at
Ar lolkq A
'- s : lv
:
I TH E UN I
N
TED STATE S D I RICT CO U RT
ST
FO R T H E W ESTERN D I
STRICT O F V I
RGI I
N A
H AR RISON BU R G D I SI N
VI O
yjo
u
JUM ûj2 1
97
'
1. : ------$ '-'5'
1 2 ,.'. h '..-e'>
- 7 -'-t ' !7
* 'k '
' ' .61 (.f(r.C'tk-.f
BY:
'
EPU 'f' '*'
. +
( G4/
.
M ATTH EW W .
ARM STRO N G,
Pl ntf,
ai if
Case N o.5: 6- 53
1 cv-
V.
J ES M AD I
AM
SON
UN I RSI
VE
TY,eta1.
.
By:
D ef
endant
s.
Mi
chaelF.U r
bansd
l
Unie St t sDititJ
t d a e stc udge
M EM O RAN D U M O PI ION
N
Th sc s wa r fre t t Ho r bl J e C. ppe Unt dSttsM a itae
i a e s e er d o he no a e o l Ho , ie ae gsr t
J dg , êu ntt 28U. C. 6 61 17) f arc
u e pu s a o
S. j 3 ( ) ,or eomme e dip iinofdee nt'
$4
nd d s osto
fnda s
mo i t din is ECF Nos 7 1 . eM a itaeJ g fldar po ta
tons o s as.
. , 1 Th gsr t ud e l
e e r nd
rc
e omme to (R&R' o Fe r a y2 2 1 , e omme i t a plitf M a t w W .
ndai n f
< 7 n b u r 3, 0 7 r c
)
ndng h t an if the
Ar sr scom pli bedir s e i ise ie y.
m tong'
ant
snis d n t ntt t ECF N o. O n M a ch 8,2017,
24.
r
Ar tong fl d aRe pons t t R&R.ECF N o.25.
ms r
ie
s
e o he
Ar ton br u htt i c s atrh sau me rhi a t J me M a s n
msr g o g h s a e fe i lmni mbe s p t he a s dio
Uri riy('MUR Uni riyRe r ai n g m (UREC7 wa r vo e .OnMa c 3 2 6
l st < ' ve st ce to y T
ve
J )
K
) se kd
r h , 01
Ar s r wasexe csng a t UREC gy ,a ac or ng t Ar s r
m tong
r ii t he
m nd, c di o m tong:
1 sopped brefy f a c
t
i l or
onve s i wi. coed e pl ,
r aton t
h
m oyee
g fnd nt M e ha Caa o (k M isDo / 1, t whom Id
de e a j g n lbr a a s e /) wih
'
ha s ver l fvoz bl a pl s nt pr vi
d e a a a e nd ea a
e ous i e a i . Id
ntr ctons '
gr
own t lke he ,a ie her be ut ,i elge e,a ot z
o i
r dm r d
a y nt li nc nd he
quaiis She s m ed ge zne a good pr pe i parne ,
lte .
ee
nti ,
os ctve
t r
s eone who c d be t used t ls i t l r She had
om
oul
r t o a t n he ong un.
r ponde t pr vi
es
d o e ous i e a i
nt r ctons wih m e pl a a l a
t
e s nty nd
a ee bl She w a gld,or a a ed s e r tm e I s
gr a y.
s a
ppe r o, ve y i
poke t
o
he .She ha t ne on t gr n l - nd 1 wa r dy t go
r
d ur d
he ee i a
ght
s ea o
t ough.She ha gve m e gr en lght a lt w a down t
hr
d i n
e i s l he y
he
tal a e r i e s cton whe e s coul ha t ned on a
t i, t ve y ntr e i
r he
d ve at
yel orr The e ha be n no r it nc on Ca a o' pa ti
low
ed. t d e
essa e
l br s r f
r a ic
om ntc omm unia i wa unwant wih no r it nc i i
c ton s
ed; t
ess a e t s
a ce anc a encour ge e .
c pt e nd
a m nt
A fe e ani t m y f ih a r la e on bi lvrs
tr xpli ng hat
at nd einc
bnca i dom
a 1w f m or gui nc al w e m e t ha a young wie
nd a or
al da e lo d
o ve
f,
e t
ven hough lw a an ol r m a Is d,flm l tng f a wie:
s
de
n ai f' ooli or
f
a you s e lke agood pr pe t' Then Ias
nd
em i
os c .'
ked,T oul you
v
d
be i e esed i c muniatng,i ge tng t kno ea h ot r
nt r t n om
c i n ti p
w c he
be t r wih t e nt l pos i lt of m a za W oul you
te , t he ve ua
sbiiy
r ige?
d
t nk a
hi
bout i?' W ih t t l w ake a y t c i
t'
t ha
l d wa o ontnue m y
wor
kout
.
Com pl,ECF N o.1,at45. Thecom pli doe noti c t how Caa o r ponded t
.
1
ant s
ndi a e
lbr es
o
Ar st spr
m tong' opos l H ow e r t ne da At sr r eved an e alfom aUREC
a.
ve , he xt y m t ong ec i
m i r
sa fm e be i c i t tli U REC m e be s p had bee s pende be us ofs xua
t f m r ndiatng ha ns
m r hi
n us
d ca e
e l
haasme .J Hi membe s pwaspe ma ntyzvoke on M a c 30,2016.- a 46.
r s nt - s
da
rhi
r ne l e d
rh
J1 t
.
L
Ar sr f
m t ong oughtt r voca
he e
éon ofli gy m e be s p on num e ousfont ,
zs m
m r hi
r
r s
i l i t fl ofaTil I c mpli wihJ SOfkeo Eq lOp ru t.
ncudng he ing
i
te X o ant t MU' f f ua po t ni Comp .
y
l
a 47.H e as s it d r que t unde t Vigi aFr edom ofI or aton A c , a Code
t
lo ubnlte e s s
r he r ni e
nf m i
tV .
Ann. j22 3 0 -2.- 71 , e k n c mmunc to bewe nJ U e o e sz g r i hi
j .- 7 0 2 3 4 s e i g o
iains t e M mply e e a dng s
UREC m e be s p.See Com pl a 46- l due c s Ar sr fl t sf de a lws t
m r hi
. t 47. n
our e, m t ong ied hi e r l a ui
a an t M u,Caa o a s v n o he d fnd nt a s rig c tt to l sa u o y a
g is l
lbr , nd e e t r e e a s s etn onsiu ina, t t tr , nd
sa elw vi ai a ii outt r voc ton ofhi UREC gy m e be slp.
t t a ol tons rsng
he e a i
s
m
m r li
Ar sr g a stst a fthemanis i t tPli tf ..h sbe n sa e e a
m ton s et h t fl
r
i sue s ha an if . a e lnd r d nd
dea e byt e g e ae a flea c ai nsofafw oft edee nt ( lb o,
fm d he xa g r td nd as c us to
e
h fnda s Caa r
'
.
Xrc lEse a qa s Ro i on . Co l a 45 Ac o dngt At to , lbr
ia t s nd me q b ns l' mp . t . c r i o - r ng Caa o
'
ms
1Az s r was 65 year o1 att tm e oft si dent Com pl at46.
m t ong
s d he i
hi nci .
.
2
r po tdAr ton ' a va e t J ofiil, c ldTil I Adn iita o Ro ns
e re msr gs d nc s o MU fcas whih e te X
zr st t r bi on
l
t
t i tat an i tgaton.
o nii e nvesi i Robi on la ned t tCaa o' s r s ,Eses ha
ns e z
ha lbt s upe vior t , d
expe i d sm ia adva sby At sr
rence i lr
nce
m tong. hieAr sz a ist thepr
W l m t ong dnnt ha
opos
ed
m arige t Caabr on M a c 3,2016,Com pl at45,a f s
ra o l o
rh
.
nd f
had hown an i e e ti'Es e '
ntê s t t s'
l
i t pas,Com pl a 51 he c e t tCaa o a Es e çdit t d a exa r t d t
n he t
. t , ont nds ha lbr nd t s f s oz e nd gge a e he
crumsa c s a (o rg l d a utk yf cs'Co l a 4 . Ar sr n as
ic t n e , nd ) utiht i bo e a t. mp . t 62 m to g lo
e
'
c mpli t th wa de e d pr e sdu i gRo i o si ve t to a e uig
o ans ha e s nid ue oc s rn bns n7 n skai n nd ns n
t voc ton ofhi gy m e be s p.
e ai
s m
m r hi
Atbotom , m s r beive t tCa a o and Esesi t d hi a nc a t t
t Ar tong le s ha l br
t nvie s dva es nd ha
hi c
s onductoughtnotbec r ctrze a s xua ha as m e :
ha a e i d s e l z s nt
W hen a young ldy m a
a
kes a ove t and cea l vii e a
n
r
l ry sbl nd
i ntfa e s xua com m uni ton i he e ii a tz s
de ii bl e l
ca i n r ntc ng tie he
s d t s bl be e c ed t r ceve a opra e s xua
houl ea ona y
xpe t o e i ppt i t e l
rs
e pons fom m al ,a s s d be hed r s
es r
es nd he houl
l e ponsbl f
i e or
r s ndng t t e e mae i iit s hre- n wih t
e po i o l s
a
l ntai
ve esf ot t he
.
U ni r iysas it nc and o r i .W hen ta U ni r iy sde
ve st ' ss a e
ve sght
le ve st i s
wih M s D oe f l knowi t ts m ade pr re s gesi
t
.
uly
ng ha he
u int ug tons
t ough he r ve lng atie i i t ng a cas a i a sdi
hr
t e ai
tr , t s aki
l s cton nd i ng
wih f m aes a i t m aes Tli i s x dic ini ton by t
t e l gans
l . a s s e s rt nai
he
Uni r iy.M aesc
ve st
l annotbe hed r ponsbl i t y r pond t
l es
i e f he es
o
f m aes postve m es a f ate i M s D oe a
e l ' ii
s ges or t nton. .
ppea ed t
r o
be r a t be we a br d,s t c us oft si i nti on
e dy o
d nd e o he a e hi ncde s
he,a s ha nog o dsupo whih t o e tt r ntc
r nd he s r un
n c o bjc o oma i
c mmun c éon.Sh ma e no ob e tonst c mpl nt a
o
ia
e d
jci o o i s nd
me
di notm e i a boyfi nd.
d
nton
ze
l a ton t he w a on physc ldiply ofs xualattbut ,
n ddii o r nt
ia s a
e
ti es
Ms
. D oe s f i ndl
'
r e y a ttz
t i de e our ge
a
nc a d r a i
om ntc
com m uni ton. The e was abs ut l no i ca i t t s
ca i
r
ol ey
ndi ton ha he
wa a
s nnoyed,e n onc m uch l s was a vi i of badge i
ve
e,
es
ctm
rng
2A ccorli t e al A r s r obt ned vi hi FO I t
ng o m is m t ong ni
a s
A eques, w hen Est l ned ofCaabt s
t
es ear
l o'
i dentwih A r stong f
nci
t m r
rom a s udents rv s ,Es esr t t fshe kte .. e l w ho
t
upe i oz t epoz ed hat r
l w . xacty
t s ude s
he t nt uperv s was t ki a
i ot
al ng bout'becaus A t stong f done t s e t ng t
'
e m r
f
had
he nm hi o
ge ce j'nt patPlsBr i Opp' t Summ..e 1, No.1 1 a 2526
zda td'i he s. . .n
'
no
J x. ECF
7-, t - .
by a s re ofunwa e be vi s Thi stzton doe notm ee
eis
nt d ha or . s ita i
s
t
t defnii of Tha as m e ' i t t t r was no r
he i ton
f r s nt: n ha he e
epea e
td
pe t rng ând toublng.Besdes M s D oe,UREC a Til I
sei
r i
i , .
nd te X
ofii l a e hype ve ia i ove a til Thi i w he e t 1w
fc as r
r ntl tng z tfe. s s
r he a
i beng abus d by a bir r us of poozy defned l il i
s i
e
r ta y e
l
i
eg saton,
wih s bjci i e p eain,b l a a ho i s a ne d t
t u e t ntr r tto y oc l ut rée , nd e s o
ve
be c nge i or rt beconsit i l
ha d n de o
ttz ona.
t
Co la 4 - 0 TheMa itaeJ g hedah ai o No mbe 1 , 1 t a le s
mp. t 9 5 .
gstt ud e l e rng n ve r 5 20 6 o dc s
r
Ar st sc nm sa de e nt'm otonst cir s ,ECF N os 9,11 Asnot t
m tong' l i nd f nda s
i
o lsnis
.
.
ed, he
Ma itael dg is e a R&R r c mme i t a al Az ton ' cqmsbed s lse
gsrt u e su d n
e o ndng h t lof msr gs li
in is d.
TheMa ita eJ g r c
gsr t ud e e omme d t talcamsbr ug und r4 U.. j1 8
nde ha l li o ht e 2 SC. 9 3
a Vigni lw a ans l u, lngwih al uc clmss e i mon tr d ma e a ans
nd ti a a g i t M ao
t 1 s h li e kng e ay a g s g i t
t eot e dee a si t i ofiil a a iis bedsnis dwihprj diebe a et
h h r fnd nt n her fca c p cte , it se t eu c c us he
.
c nm sa e ba r d by s r i i m uniy unde t Elve h Am e
li r re
ove egn m
t
r he e nt
ndm e oft U nie
nt he
td
St esConsiuton.Asf Ar sr scli sunde Til I a i tt i vi l
at
tt i
or m t ong' nm
r te X gans he ndi dua
dee a s t Ma itaeJ dg r c l nde t ecnmsbed s s e wih p eudc
fnd nt,he gsr t u e e onme d hos li
il s d t r j ie
ni
bec us Til I doe notpr dea c us ofac i a i ti vi l.SeeBr c v.
a e te X
s
ovi
a e
ton gans ndi duas
ae
Buc na 5 F. u 2 41 , 9( D. .1 9 )(ol ci c ss. eMa itaeJ g
ha n, 5 S pp. d 6 41 E. Va 9 9 c l t a e)Th gsrt ud e
e ng
r com m ende dir s a ofAr st sr m ani f r sat or and consiutonalcnm s
e
d snis l
m t ong' e i ng ede al t ut y
tt i
li
wih tpr jdief rfin t saeacam pu s a t Rue1 1 6 oft Fe tlRu e
t ou eu c o al g o tt li ru nt o l 24 ) he de a ls
i
$4
ofCii Pr c d ze La t , h M a itaeJ d et c
v l o e tr . sl t e gsr t u g e omme e t tt c u tde l t
y
nd d ha he o r ci o
ne
e e cs s pplme tlurs ci o rAr ton ' saelw cams 2 U. C. 1 6 c()
x r ie u e n a j iditon ve msr gs tt a li . 8 S. j 3 7()3
(lo n dititc u t t d ci s pp e ntlu idci o e saelw cnmswhe et e
al wi g src o rs o e l u lme a jrs iton v r tt a li
ne
z h
c ur ha dit se alclmso rwh c i h dorgna jrs ci )
o t s snis d 1 li ve ih t a ii lu iditon .
4
Th c u tha rv e d Ar sr gsRe po et t M a itaeJ g ' R&R a
e o r s e iwe m ton ' s ns o he gstt ud es
nd
fnd hi o e éo t bee ieywih tmei. t rt a a d e st lg l dncpe a
i s s bjc ns o nttl t ou rt Rahe h n d r s he e a p i ls nd
c s 1w s ldyfani t Ma itaeJ g ' R&R, mst nga lst c ur t jt o
a e a oi l zt ng he g sr t ud es
Ar to s he o t o eés n
t
r e ofpr edur a t f
uls
oc
e nd he unda e a sofsa ede ii i or rt i plm e hi vii of
m ntl
t r c ss n de o m e nt s son
s it. ee .Pli ifsRepons t R&R, No. 5 a 2rf zc nmae s ul be
ocey Se . , antf s e o
ECF 2 , t Ameia ls ho d
pr edi a pat a c s f be r e s i t d t y ha a
oce ng s n'rh - zt z ul r- nsea he ve iowed bic ol w om e and
t hy d
n
c a pyr l i u pe pl t tl t g h w t l a dwh t o d 7 Ar to ' Re po e
r p ei o s o e o el hemj o o i n a t o. msr ngs s ns
g
ve
).
doesnota es t c e 1w s
ddr s he as a uppori t R& R,butr t ra gue t tt c ts d
tng he
a he r s ha he out houl
s tr e a d p e e nta i rft ysa i t wa o Pli ifsjur yt j d e'1 a
e uls n r c de sde c he tnd n he y f antf' o ne o us c . d. t
i
'
3.O utr
epublc f
i , ounde on t r e ofl w,i
Disclaimer: Justia Dockets & Filings provides public litigation records from the federal appellate and district courts. These filings and docket sheets should not be considered findings of fact or liability, nor do they necessarily reflect the view of Justia.
Why Is My Information Online?