Title IX Defense Attorney

Every college and university has a different code of student conduct and a mechanism for policing and adjudicating violations of the student code of conduct.

Campus sexual misconduct is a category of many different types of misconduct and is often referred to as “Title IX” offenses. Title IX is not an offense. It is a body of federal law enacted in the 1970’s to eliminate gender bias on college and university campuses. It applies to colleges and universities that accept federal money.

We have successfully defended students accused of campus wrongdoing, campus sexual assault, and Title IX at the following universities:

  • Johnson & Wales University
  • Salve Regina University
  • Roger Williams University
  • Providence College
  • Brown
  • University of Massachusetts Amherst
  • The University of Rhode Island
  • Wheaton College
  • Bryant University
  • RISD

From the moment an accused student learns that he or she has been accused of campus misconduct, he or she is strongly advised to take these steps:

  • Say nothing about the matter to anyone
  • Tell your parents
  • Hire a qualified attorney to be the accused student’s advisor

Advisor – every student accused of sexual wrongdoing is allowed to have the assistance of an advisor.  Although, the advisor can be someone from a list of members of the campus community, it is in your best interest to hire an attorney to protect your rights.  If the accused student wants an attorney to advise him or her, he or she is responsible for locating, hiring, and paying for that attorney to advise.

Hiring an experienced attorney to defend any alleged wrongdoing and assist you with the important documentation is the singe most important part of success.  Our office will:

  • Prepare the student to give a statement
  • Investigate
  • Identify and assemble relevant evidence
  • Counsel the student with regard to rules and policies
  • Prepare and accompany the student for his or her interview(s)
  • Examine the evidence and create a defense
  • Prepare a written challenge to the evidence
  • Prepare and accompany the student at the hearing
  • Appeal if an appeal is necessary
  • Determine whether the student has a viable legal claim against the college or university or for its mishandling of the student conduct process

“We retained John during a very difficult time for our son. It was as difficult a time our family had been involved in and John guided us through the process with such fearlessness and professionalism to get us a wonderful result. John was smart, had great foresight and clearly had the experience and knowledge to get my son and our family to the best place possible. We spent many hours with John who worked tirelessly for our son and we cannot thank him enough for his hard work, caring and time he put into our son’s case.”

“As a mom, I was completely blindsided and distressed when our child was falsely accused. Atty. Grasso was there for us, 100%, from my first (panicked) call. Throughout the emotional rollercoaster that we endured, Atty. Grasso went above and beyond with his responses (answering my texts/emails within minutes) as well as his swift actions in the twists and turns of our case. I am a very meticulous person, and Atty. Grasso was always a few steps ahead of me in the process. He listened to me, was completely honest without sugarcoating (which I greatly appreciated), and never stopped fighting (literally) day and night. He also very patient, kind, and helped calm my anxiety and fears. His attention to every detail and relentless defense resulted in a dismissal of our case. I will never forget Atty. Grasso and what he did for our family.”

Recent Title IX Results

College Student Exonerated of Title IX Violations

Another Title IX/campus Misconduct Exoneration

RESULT: Client Found Not Responsible

“Another Title IX/campus misconduct exoneration.  Our local college student client was wrongly accused of campus sexual assault.  After a year-long, ...

Review Case Result
two college clients were exonerated of alleged wrongdoing on campus

Accused Student & Recent Title IX Policy Changes

RESULT: Hearing Panel Found Him Not Responsible

“Despite outrageous changes to the university’s Title IX policies and procedures that left our accused student client with hardly any ...

Review Case Result
not guilty domestic violence

Pandemic Patience Pays Off

RESULT: Not Guilty

“Our first client to have her case tried since the courts stopped trying cases due to COVID-19 proved how important ...

Review Case Result
Student Cleared of Any Wronging

College Campus Sex Assault & Sex Harassment Exoneration

RESULT: Student Cleared of Any Wronging

“Three female students coordinated their Title 9 complaints on a fourth female freshman student, our client.  Secretly, those three students ...

Review Case Result
two college clients were exonerated of alleged wrongdoing on campus

Another Title IX Exoneration

RESULT: Student Cleared of Any Wronging

“Another Title IX exoneration.  A year after two college students engaged in consensual sex, one of those students filed a ...

Review Case Result
Two unrelated Title IX adjudications

TWO More Title IX Victories

RESULT: Two unrelated Title IX adjudications, at separate schools, prevailed this week at Title IX hearings.

“This week, we finally resolved two ongoing Title IX cases at two different colleges and universities. In both cases, we ...

Review Case Result
two college clients were exonerated of alleged wrongdoing on campus

Two College Clients Were Exonerated of Alleged Wrongdoing on Campus

RESULT: Exonerated

This week, two college clients were exonerated of alleged wrongdoing on campus.  The first was falsely accused of almost 30 ...

Review Case Result
title ix campus lawyer

Another Title IX/Campus Misconduct Nightmare ends with Not Responsible

RESULT: Not Responsible

“Another local college kid accused of campus sexual assault weeks before graduation is found not responsible.  Four days prior to ...

Review Case Result
College Student Exonerated of Title IX Violations

College Student Exonerated of Title IX Violations

RESULT: College Student Exonerated of Title IX Violations

“Six months ago, our college student client received an email from Title IX advising him that another student accused him ...

Review Case Result

Campus sexual misconduct includes these types of offenses:

  • Sexual assault
  • Sexual harassment
  • Gender-based harassment
  • Sexual violence
  • Relationship and interpersonal violence
  • Stalking
  • Retaliation
  • Non-consensual sexual touching

Typical College / University Title IX Process

When a student makes a complaint that alleges any of the sorts of violations that fit into the Title IX category, the college or university will almost always:

  1. 1. Take a written or verbal complaint from the “Complainant”
  2. 2. Notify the accused, often called the “Respondent”
  3. 3. Request a written or verbal response from the Respondent
  4. 4. Assign the matter to an investigator
    • Investigators can be
      • external – hired from outside of the college
      • internal – employed by the college
    • Investigate
      • Interview the Complainant and Respondent
      • Interview other witnesses
      • Collect evidence
        • Text messages
        • Social media
        • Video surveillance
      • Prepare an investigation Report
      • Share the Investigation Report with the Complainant and Respondent and allow each to share their concerns with the Investigation Report and propose corrections
      • Hearing
      • Report whether the Complainant proved by a fair preponderance of the evidence that the Respondent is responsible for the alleged violation(s)
      • Report Sanctions if the Respondent was found responsible
        • Suspension
        • Termination
      • Appeal