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 <agove nm e oflwsa notofm e '
d
he ul
a sf
r nt a nd
n.'

Coo e v. r n, 8U. 1 2 (9 8 Trn ure,.c nc ri )( odn o Ad ms
r Aao 35 S. , 3 1 5 ) a kf trJ, o urng qu gl hn a ,
M a s c e t Consi zi of178 pt 1,a t
s a hus ts
tt ton
a
0, . r .

. s a cour i notf e t
As uch,
ts
re o

dir g r t lw t c nf r t t v e ofa ypatc a l ka . msr ngso e to
se a d he a o o o m o he iws n riulr i ntAr to ' bjci ns
t
a e overuld i t i entr t .
r
r e n he r ie y

I s t c u tf l a r e wih t eM a itaeJ g ' t r ug a wel
n um, he o r ul g e s t h gsr t ud es ho o h nd l
y
-

sppo tdR&R, ndo erlsAr to ' o e to teeo. a pr p it Or rwi be
u re '
a v rue msrngs bjcins h zt An p o rae de l
l
e e ed.
ntr

E tzd f - /.- Inee: '- x
*
7
M i hae F. r ns
c l U ba ki

Uni dS ae Ditit ud e
t t ts src l g
e

5