HEARINGS & INVESTIGATIONS
▼ Title IX Hearings
▼ School Misconduct Investigations
WHAT WE DO
Our Title IX advisors are lawyers with specialized expertise in representing both complainants and respondents in campus sexual assault and sexual harassment cases. We serve as trained advisors to students and faculty in Title IX cases nationwide.
Our Approach
We help students and faculty members navigate Title IX allegations from beginning to end. We dedicate a tremendous amount of time and resources to working closely with our client to uncover the truth about what happened, convey our client’s side of the story in a compelling way to the Title IX investigator, represent the client in a Title IX hearing at the college level, and fight for our client through any appeals.
The sooner Title IX complainants or respondents bring us on as advisors, the more effectively we can protect their rights and navigate towards a fair and just outcome. Often, educational institutions are not proficient in following Title IX laws, which are complex and ever-changing, and schools and colleges often jump to conclusions before a thorough and unbiased investigation. The goal is truth and fairness, and we work hard to ensure the school does not allow bias to interfere.
Title IX Cases
Our Title IX attorneys handle cases at the elementary school, middle school, high school, and college level in every state across the United States, as Title IX is a federal law. We represent both complainants and respondents. We do not represent clients in lawsuits, as our specialty is in the investigation stage, as well as at a hearing if one is held and in any appeal.
Our Title IX attorneys also assist clients with filing complaints with the US Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) after a school or university completes its Title IX process. OCR oversees how all schools and universities handle Title IX cases. A successful OCR complaint can lead to a civil settlement and other outcomes favorable to our clients if OCR finds that the school failed to uphold the rules and regulations of Title IX.
T E A M L E A D E R
Criminal Defense Attorney, Partner
616-458-5500
tessa@sbbllaw.com
Tessa Muir
Learn More About Title IX
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You should file a complaint with the school or college’s Title IX Office or Title IX Coordinator. Every school and college is required to have a Title IX Coordinator. You can also report sexual assault and stalking to the local police.
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Students and faculty/employees who are accused of sexual assault or sexual harassment in schools and colleges within the United States have a set of rights afforded to them under federal Title IX laws. Title IX requires schools and colleges to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation, to move at a reasonable speed, to collect evidence, and to offer both parties the opportunity to provide statements or interviews. The decision maker who ultimately decides if the accused person should be found responsible or not responsible for the Title IX allegation must be someone other than the person who conducted the investigation.
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Yes. Being fired or expelled are real possibilities for people accused of sexual assault and sexual harassment in the school or college setting. It is important to have an experienced Title IX attorney represent you at any interviews or hearings. The Title IX attorneys will have experience in putting together investigations and defending against accusations. Saying the wrong thing, or saying too much or too little, during the course of the investigation can lead to expulsion or termination from employment at the school and college level.
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If the complainant files a “formal” complaint, the charges will not be dropped unless the school or college determines that the allegation, if true, does not amount to a Title IX violation. However, if both parties agree to an informal resolution, sometimes the Title IX Office will be amenable to negotiating a resolution between the complainant and respondent. Both parties need to agree, and the allegations cannot be between a student and staff member/faculty.
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It depends. Currently, Title IX requires a hearing at the college and university level. Title IX does not require a hearing a the elementary, middle school, or high school level. Title IX laws are constantly changing, so it is important to ask a Title IX attorney what the current law is regarding hearings.
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Yes. If either the complainant or respondent is unhappy with the results of the Title IX process, he or she can appeal. It is important to review the fine print in the written decision, which will specify the timeline and method for appealing. Usually the timeline for appealing is only a few days. The appeal goes to someone who was not involved in the Title IX case up to that point. At the elementary through high school level, for example, the appeal authority is often the Superintendent.
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Yes. You can sue a school or college for failing to follow Title IX. SBBL Law does not currently take Title IX lawsuits. However, another option is to file a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the Department of Education. Filing an OCR complaint means that OCR will review the claim for a violation of Title IX laws and procedures, and, if OCR accepts the case, it will conduct its own investigation of what happened. An OCR complaint must be filed within 180 days of the last action in the Title IX case. The OCR complaint process can help determine whether the person has a viable Title IX lawsuit or not.
Frequently Asked Questions
Contact Our Team
The attorneys at SBBL Law are experienced, knowledgeable, and dedicated to handling Title IX hearings investigations. Call us for a free evaluation and consultation.