At Spodek Law Group, we understand the importance of protecting the rights of every individual, regardless of their gender. Attorney Todd Spodek and his team of highly experienced Title IX and Conduct Code lawyers believe that every student and employee deserves equal opportunities within their educational institution. If you believe your Title IX rights have been violated, whether you’ve been accused or you are a victim, call us as soon as possible to discuss your situation.
Title IX not only covers athletics but also offers protection from sexual harassment, assault, and employment discrimination. It prohibits discrimination against individuals on the basis of sex in educational institutions that receive federal funds of any kind. This includes colleges, universities, local school districts, and even for-profit and charter schools. The heart of Title IX states that no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program receiving Federal financial assistance.
At Spodek Law Group, we believe in using show don’t tell language that exhibits our professionalism and deep understanding of the law. We have the experience to handle any legal situation related to Title IX. Our highly knowledgeable lawyers passionately represent those whose legal rights are denied in the context of Title IX. We understand that it is emotionally charged when your rights are violated, and we are here to support you in your fight for justice.
Students and employees have many different rights under Title IX, including rights that prohibit gender discrimination, sexual harassment, and unlawful retaliation. Gender discrimination can occur against females, males, and transgender individuals. Additionally, section (a)(8) of the act also extends protections to students who are also parents.
Potentially unlawful retaliation includes any type of adverse treatment in response to reporting potentially unlawful discrimination or harassment. Examples of adverse retaliatory treatment against students can include denial of permission to participate on an athletic team, a reduction in the amount of playing time, or change to a less-desirable position on the team, reduction in grades in academic courses, harassment or other mistreatment on the athletic field or in the classroom, suspension or expulsion from a program or from the institution.
In addition to students, employees can also suffer from unlawful retaliation, including harassment or mistreatment from supervisors or administrators, a decrease in pay, material change in job duties, demotion, termination, and refusal by the employer to provide a positive job reference. At Spodek Law Group, we have successfully represented many clients who have suffered from retaliation due to reporting discrimination or harassment.
Title IX applies to almost all schools, including both public and private universities, that receive some sort of federal funding. For private institutions, this is typically in the form of federal financial-aid programs or student loans taken out by the universities’ attendees. Our lawyers have handled cases involving a wide range of issues commonly filed under Title IX, including sexual assault and harassment, pregnancy discrimination, employment discrimination, bullying, opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) or career technical education (CTE), and disparate disciplinary policies based on gender.
At Spodek Law Group, we understand the complexities of the Title IX disciplinary process. We have experience defending students accused of violating their institution’s Code of Conduct. Investigations, hearings, sanction boards, student panels, and administrators all get involved to determine if the school’s Code of Conduct has been violated by any party, and penalties from loss of student housing to full-year suspensions to expulsion are common when a student is found “responsible” for a violation. Our lawyers have successfully defended many students who have been accused of such violations.
If you need to file a Title IX complaint, our lawyers can help you navigate the process. Students who bring a complaint that their rights have been violated in some way covered by Title IX will typically first bring their complaint to a school official in the relevant office. If their complaint is dismissed out of hand or otherwise not handled properly, that’s when an experienced Title IX lawyer can help advise them of their rights and next steps. Conversely, accused students (also known as “respondents”) who feel the school did not comply with Title IX law in conducting a fair investigation and hearing process may have additional options which a Title IX attorney can help them with.
If you desire to pursue a Title IX complaint beyond your school due to the school’s response to your initial claim, you can send your complaint to your regional Office for Civil Rights (OCR) within the US Department of Education. At Spodek Law Group, we can help you file a complaint within the required 180 days from the date of the discrimination. Your complaint must contain all relevant information related to the complaint, including the name of the educational institution, the date of the incident, details of the discrimination, your name, address, and telephone number, and as much information as possible about the discriminatory act.
If a school is found to be in violation of a Title IX violation, it will be required to address and fix the condition that led to the complaint in the first place. It may lose all or part of its federal funding. In some cases, depending upon the extent of the violation, a claimant may also be able to bring civil charges against the defendant for compensation for losses.
At Spodek Law Group, we represent anyone who believes that their rights under Title IX have been violated. This includes student defendants who have been accused of sexual assault or/and a violation of the educational institution’s code of conduct, students who bring a claim against another student, staff member, or the university and believe that their claim is being (or has been) improperly investigated or handled, faculty and staff members who make a claim of sexual harassment or discrimination against an educational institution in an employment context, coaches, players, and other parties who file a claim against an educational institution in an athletic context.
Our lawyers understand the emotional toll that Title IX cases can take on students, employees, and their families. We are committed to fighting for justice on behalf of our clients and ensuring that they receive the full and equal opportunities afforded to them by every educational institution in the United States. Contact Spodek Law Group today to discuss the specifics of your case in detail and learn more about your rights.