Federal judge seals St. Thomas lawsuit details

A federal judge sided with St. Thomas Monday and ordered the details of a lawsuit filed against it by a suspended student to remain sealed.

St. Thomas filed an emergency motion May 2 to delete and seal some of the student’s claims, which involved a sexual assault allegation. Judge Kate Menendez granted that motion. Menendez denied St. Thomas’ request for sanctions against the plaintiff’s attorney for his redactions, which the judge said were “sloppy.”

The judge took under advisement the issue of whether the plaintiff can remain anonymous.

The student wasn’t criminally charged in the incident. But St. Thomas suspended him for three semesters after it launched its own investigation, according to court documents.

The federal lawsuit filed April 29 alleges that St. Thomas imposed an unfair and illegal disciplinary process against the student. The university denies the allegations and claims that its investigations are thorough and impartial.

During the hearing, the plaintiff’s lawyer, Beau McGraw, revealed that an attempt at an out of court settlement in late March failed.

“We’ve done everything we can to not have a lawsuit,” McGraw said.

Noura Elmanssy can be reached at elma7206@stthomas.edu