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¦ From $1.7M GAME on PAGE 11 rogue actor,” Pirrotti said. “There were many players.
In other words, the attorneys argued, federal law There were those who just stood silent and did noth-
protected their client. ing after she reported this to those who actively en-
“It doesn’t say, ‘no student,’” Pirrotti said. “It says, gaged in sexually harassing comments both inside
‘no person.’” the police department and toward students. There
were also those who sexually assaulted my client by
touching her inappropriately.”
‘Loud and clear message’
“Title IX protects against all forms of discrimina- The lawsuit was filed in March 2019. It came on
tion based on sex, and that includes hostile work the heels of a Shipman & Goodwin independent in-
environment and deliberate in- vestigation of the university’s Po-
difference and retaliation,” added lice Department that concluded
Pirrotti, who has spoken nation- “sexual misconduct and assault
ally on the #MeToo movement was inevitable” in the environ-
and gender equality. “It is my ment within the school’s police
hope that successes like this one force, according to the lawsuit.
send a message to attorneys to not Pirrotti says she believes the
be afraid to take on these impor- university has since “made some
tant and challenging cases.” strides, but there is still unfortu-
Pirrotti claimed the allega- New Haven attorney Nina nately a long way to go.”
Pirrotti has clinched a $1.75
tions supported that there was a million settlement for her Representing the university
“rape culture” at the university at client, known as Jane Doe, is Carletha Texidor, an attorney
the time. Jane Doe was a univer- with the Office of the Connecti-
sity officer from 2010 to July 2018 who alleged she was sexual cut Attorney General. Elizabeth
when she went on leave under the harassed and raped while a Benton, a spokesperson for the
Family and Medical Leave Act. office, declined to comment.
She never returned. Doe alleges CCSU police officer. Janice Palmer, director of uni-

she was raped twice in the sum- versity public relations, issued a
mer of 2014 and once again in the statement from the institution’s
fall of 2016 by the officer. president.
“With each survivor who comes “In working with the Attorney
forward, we move our society fur- General’s Office, CCSU settled
ther along toward eliminating or the sexual assault case brought by
at least minimizing the likelihood a woman police officer against a
of this culture,” said Pirrotti, who male police officer. The university
refers to Jane Doe as a “hero.” terminated the male officer in fall 2018,” university
Pirrotti said Jane Doe reported the alleged rapes president Zulma Toro said in the statement. “This
to campus police. They did not investigate her alle- case was one of several brought to light when Presi-
gations for almost a year, Pirrotti said. Jane Doe has dent Toro arrived at CCSU, and she has worked to
not pursued criminal charges. transform the campus culture, while sending a loud
The lawsuit alleged Doe’s supervisors and co- and clear message that sexual misconduct and bul-
workers retaliated against her for reporting the con- lying are not tolerated at CCSU.”
duct by denying her backup when she needed it. ¦

The police officer who allegedly assaulted Jane Robert Storace covers legal trends, lawsuits and
Doe was eventually fired. analysis for the Connecticut Law Tribune. Follow
Pirrotti states that the allegations demonstrates him on Twitter @RobertSCTLaw or reach him at
that “this was not an isolated incident of this one 203-437-5950.

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