Three New Plaintiffs Added To Class Action Title IX Lawsuit Against LSU
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA – An amended complaint filed Friday in the groundbreaking class action Title IX lawsuit, Owens, et al. v. Louisiana State University, et al., named Louisiana State University head football coach, Ed Orgeron, as a defendant in addition to LSU, the Tiger Athletic Foundation, and other LSU officials. The lawsuit alleges that Orgeron, along with the previously named defendants, conspired to “stymie LSU’s entire Title IX policy” in order to protect “certain athletes from viable Title IX claims.”
The amended complaint describes multiple instances where Orgeron ignored complaints of harassment or assault committed by one of his players, “John Doe.” On one occasion, plaintiff Ashlyn Robertson’s then-boyfriend told Orgeron that Robertson was raped by one of his football players. Orgeron told him not to be upset because “everybody’s girlfriend sleeps with other people” and did not report the rape to the LSU Title IX office as is required by University policy and federal guidance. On another occasion, the suit alleges, an elderly female security guard reported sexual harassment by Doe. Orgeron told her it was “just a joke.”
Allegations Against LSU Faculty Member
The complaint also adds allegations against an LSU faculty member who repeatedly sexually harassed and assaulted a graduate student, as well as allegations against another LSU football player who was allowed to transfer after only a three-week disciplinary suspension. The plaintiffs seek damages and injunctive relief against LSU and Tiger Athletic Foundation. They are being represented by Michigan-based Title IX law firms Temperance Legal Group and Elizabeth Abdnour Law, as well as New Orleans-based Katie Lasky Law.
Ashlyn Robertson, a plaintiff added in the amended complaint, stated, “I’m doing this to protect our daughters and future women of LSU. There has to be change within the University and its policies. If I would have known other women had been assaulted by the same person I was, I wouldn’t have felt so alone, and I would have had the courage to come forward back in 2016.”
Elizabeth Abdnour, co-counsel for the plaintiffs, said, “We are proud to represent these brave women in their fight for justice. Holding the responsible individuals and institutions accountable for their failures is the first step towards creating a safer LSU for everyone.”
Katie Lasky, co-counsel for the plaintiffs, said, “With the filing of this amended complaint, we applaud and stand with the additional women who have bravely come forward to tell their personal and difficult stories and hold LSU accountable for its years of putting money over the well-being of students.”
For more information, contact Jillian Snyman at jillian.snyman@abdnour.com
