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NEWS AUGUST 31, 2020 ¦ 11

$1.7M Game Changer: Odds Shift
For Officer Suing CCSU Over Rape

By Robert Storace

A Central Connecticut State University
n employment and civil rights attorney’s reli- successful resolution of the matter in a mediation
ance on Title IX laws helped clinch a $1.75 before Magistrate Judge Donna Martinez.
million settlement for her client, a female “It was a game changer in this case, because com-
police officer who alleged a former Central Con- pensatory and punitive damages are capped under
necticut State University police colleague raped her. Title VII, but not under Title IX,” said Pirrotti, a
That strategy secured the settlement, which was partner with Garrison, Levin-Epstein, Fitzgerald &
reached in early July and announced Wednesday. It Pirrotti in New Haven. “It’s important to understand
helped direct the plaintiff ’s approach to the lawsuit, that the university moved to dismiss the Title IX
which claimed co-workers and superiors sexually claim on the grounds that it only protects students
harassed the woman, referred to in court documents and not employees.”
as Jane Doe. To persuade the judge, Pirrotti pointed to U.S. Su-
It paid off when U.S. District Judge Michael Shea preme Court precedent, saying Title IX should be
denied the university’s motion to dismiss under Ti- interpreted broadly. Within the broad framework of
tle IX, which is part of the Education Amendments that high court case, no person should be subjected to
of 1972. discrimination under an education program or activ-
Plaintiff ’s counsel Nina Pirrotti said that decision ity that benefits from federal funding or assistance.
likely played an important role in bringing about a
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