LAWSUIT Against Uof Arkansas. Judge Rules That Former Student can Continue as John Doe
A judge’s order Monday allows a lawsuit filed by “John Doe” to continue without using the name of the former student alleging the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville wrongly sanctioned him for sexual misconduct and violated his right to due process. The student had earlier filed a motion to proceed under a pseudonym, stating that using his name “would result in the public association of John Doe’s name with false allegations of sexual conduct,” which would be “causing or exacerbating the severe reputational harm that the suit seeks to avoid.”
U.S. District Judge P.K. Holmes III in his order stated that the university did not object to the use of “John Doe.” The use of a pseudonym is allowable “in limited circumstances,” Holmes wrote in the order, stating that courts “have consistently held that litigation involving pleadings and supporting documents detailing private sexual acts between two young college students are ‘truly intimate matters.'” …”Use of pseudonym conveys to the court ‘this is so serious I can’t even use my real name’ which I think helps bolster their argument that a severe reputational injury is at stake,” said law professor Erin Buzuvis.
nwaonline By Jaime Adame
