SHORT HILLS, N.J., Dec. 22, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- In yet another
campus sexual offense case, a student has sued a college for its
inaction with regard to a sexual assault incident.
Bridgewater College in Bridgewater, Virginia, and its administrators
have been sued in the United
States Federal District Court in the Southern District of
New York for failure to provide a
safe campus and an educational environment free from
discrimination.
Federica Facchetti, a foreign
exchange student from Italy, was
unaware that in 2013 there were at least five reported forcible sex
offenses that occurred at on-campus student housing facilities at
Bridgewater College. On February 5,
2014, Facchetti became a victim of sexual assault at an
on-campus student housing facility.
"Rather than appropriately addressing Facchetti's horrific
sexual assault, Bridgewater
instead determined that it would sweep the sexual assault under the
carpet," states Facchetti's attorney Peter
J. Frazza of the Budd Larner law firm in Short Hills, New Jersey. The complaint
also alleges that Bridgewater
failed to properly deal with the five forcible sexual offenses that
occurred in 2013.
Bridgewater student
Tyler Vest, of Arrington, Virginia, admitted to campus police
that he touched Facchetti's vagina, breasts and buttocks, tried to
force her to touch his penis and forced himself on top of
her. He also admitted that Plaintiff instructed him to
discontinue this behavior and that he got mad at her because she
would not engage in sexual activity with him.
According to the complaint, the college failed to follow the
proper procedures investigating and handling the matter in
violation of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. In
contravention of the college's sexual misconduct policy, the
college repeatedly discouraged Facchetti from filing a complaint
against Vest. The college also allegedly failed to:
- notify Facchetti of the previous incidents;
- identify and address any patterns revealed in prior
reports;
- report the incident to the Town of
Bridgewater Police Department;
- make Facchetti aware of her rights;
- conduct an investigation and determine any appropriate
measures;
- provide a determination of charges to Facchetti;
- include Facchetti in the hearing process including the
opportunity to confront the assailant, bring witnesses, obtain a
final written determination and the ability to appeal a decision;
and
- provide training to students, faculty and staff on Title IX
issues.
Other defendants include Dr. David
Bushman, President of Bridgewater
College; William Miracle,
Dean of Students; Crystal Lynn,
Title IX Coordinator; and Nicholas
Picerno, Chief of Campus Police.
The lawsuit, Federica Facchetti v
Bridgewater College et al, seeks
compensatory damages, punitive damages, attorney's fees and other
relief.
BUDD LARNER, P.C.
150 John F. Kennedy Parkway
Short Hills, NJ 07078-2703
973.379.4800
www.buddlarner.com
Contact Mitchell Rait
973.315.4515 e-mail: mrait@buddlarner.com
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visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/college-sued-by-student-campus-assault-victim-300013288.html
SOURCE Budd Larner, P.C.