Page 27 - CLT112320

VERDICTS & SETTLEMENTS NOVEMBER 23, 2020 ¦ 27

university’s knowledge of alleged inappropriate con- during one-on-one rehearsals; once told her he loved
duct by members of several departments, including her; and attempted to isolate her from her peers.
theater. Those requests highlighted that there was The lawsuit stated: “Either before or after class,
an indifference to these types of complaints by the when no one was present, Delventhal would sneak in
university.” unwanted touching. He would touch Ms. Emigh on
The documents Garcia-Quintner obtained via her upper thigh, resting his hand on her upper thigh.
FOIA helped her settle the case for $225,000, the at- He touched her lower back and her shoulder when he
torney said. talked to her. He hugged Ms. Emigh and kissed her.
While the university offered to settle for five fig- He would bring up questions about Ms. Emigh’s past
ures, Garcia-Quintner knew that with what she experiences to cause Ms. Emigh to cry, as to have an
obtained, she could get more than that amount. opportunity to get physically close to her.”
“Title IX cases are difficult to prove because there Garcia-Quintner said her client withdrew from
is a high burden on the plaintiff. the university in January 2019,
You have to show that the univer- about 18 months after she started.
sity was deliberately indifferent to She moved back to her native Ida-
the needs of the students and that ho, her attorney said.
they had knowledge of the abuse,” Plaintiffs counsel Maria “It wasn’t about the money for
the attorney said. Garcia-Quintner helped
negotiate a $225,000 my client. She was taking a stand
In the case of Emigh, who was settlement for her client against the university and Mr. Del-
19 at the time of the alleged abuse who alleged that a former venthal. It was important for her
and is now 22 years old, Garcia- CCSU theater professor to come forward with her story.
Quintner said, “I think we were It was a healing process for her,”
able to settle for $225,000 because repeatedly sexually Garcia-Quintner said.

of the FOIA requests, but also be- harassed her. Delventhal, who lives in East

cause of the medical evidence of Haddam, didn’t respond to a re-
the severe emotional distress of quest for comment Monday.
my client.” Delventhal’s attorney, Marc
In addition, Garcia-Quintner said, a January 2019 Mercier of Beck & Eldergill, also didn’t respond to a
Shipman & Goodwin report on various allegations request for comment.
of sex abuse and harassment against students at the Representing the university was Mary Lenehan of
university also helped her case. the Connecticut Attorney General’s Office. Elizabeth
That report said: “It indeed became clear that Benton, office spokesperson, declined to comment.
while concerns (of sexual abuse and harassment) And, Janice Palmer, a university spokeswoman,
have been raised by various individuals at various didn’t respond to a request for comment.
point in time, such complaints have not been prop- ¦

erly investigated and effectively addressed.” Robert Storace covers legal trends, lawsuits and
According to the amended May 18 lawsuit, Emigh analysis for the Connecticut Law Tribune. Follow
alleged Delventhal, who no longer works for the him on Twitter @RobertSCTLaw or reach him at
university, would often touch her inappropriately 203-437-5950.

Visit
ctlawtribune.com

PHONE: 860-757-6659

CONNECTICUT
Law Tribune