Update: Eugene Volokh (UCLA), Court Dismisses Palestinian Muslim Student Activist's Harassment Complaint Against Northwestern Law School, But Discrimination Claim Can Go Forward
Reuters, Northwestern University Must Face Palestinian Law Grad's Discrimination Suit:
A former Northwestern law student can proceed with a discrimination lawsuit that claims the school failed to protect her from being harassed over her pro-Palestine activism, a federal judge ruled on Tuesday [Elagha v. Northwestern University, No. 24-C-12066 (N.D. Ill. May 13, 2025)].
Plaintiff Yasmeen Elagha in November sued Northwestern and several law school officials, including law dean Hari Osofsky, alleging she was discriminated against and subjected to a hostile educational environment.
Elagha, who is a Palestinian Muslim, said university officials failed to intervene after fellow students falsely claimed she attacked them during a campus protest. She also alleged that students released her personal information online and got her job offer at a major law firm rescinded.
U.S. District Judge Charles Kocoras in Chicago dismissed Elagha's claim of a hostile educational environment, but allowed her claim of intentional discrimination to proceed after Northwestern filed a motion to dismiss the case. …
Law firm DLA Piper rescinded her job offer after a fellow law student falsely claimed Elagha assaulted her during a protest, according to the suit. Subsequent internal university review concluded that no assault took place, according to the lawsuit.
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