Alleged Victim of Florida State Quarterback Sues University

There has been considerable controversy over the allegation of a woman against Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston of sexual assault. The woman has now filed a civil suit against the university’s board of trustees for allegedly ignoring her claims of sexual harassment and discrimination by Winston in protection of its all-star quarterback. We recently discussed another case where a FSU player was engaged in what appears to be a hit-and-run but was given lenient treatment by local police and campus security.

Winston recently enraged many after it was disclosed that, at his Florida State student code of conduct hearing, he claimed that the woman’s moaning during sex was taken as consent. He was being cleared of sexual assault allegations by the university and also avoided criminal prosecution over the alleged rape at his off-campus apartment in December 2012.

The woman is now turning to civil action in claiming the creation of a hostile educational environment for her. The timing could not be worse for Wilsom who has declared for the upcoming NFL draft.

The case however presents difficulties for the plaintiffs because she did not inform the university until a year after the alleged attack. However, she claims that the university failed interviewed her for months and “No one on behalf of FSU, with the lone exception of (the woman’s) confidential victim advocate, ever mentioned to plaintiff that the school could bring disciplinary charges against Winston. Plaintiff’s only information was gained through brief, privileged victim-advocate conversations.”

The dual decision by both the university and prosecutor that there was not sufficient evidence of rape will present an obvious challenge. These proceedings ultimately either accepted Winston’s account or rejected the alleged victim’s account. The university also insisted that it has a documented and extensive investigation of the matter.