Student Raped, Killed in Dorm
STUDENT RAPED, KILLED IN DORM: FAILURE TO TIMELY NOTIFY OF NATURE OF DEATH; INADEQUATE SECURITY; EMOTIONAL DISTRESS; SETTLEMENT
Doe, 22, was raped and killed in a dorm room at the university she attended. When school officials first notified her parents, they told them the death seemed to be accidental even though the circumstances—she was found half nude with bruising and a pillow covering her face—indicated there had been foul play. Neither Doe’s parents nor the campus community was notified the death was a homicide until 10 weeks after she died. The university was fined $357,000 by the federal government for its failure to timely notify. Doe’s parents suffered severe emotional distress when the circumstances were finally revealed to them.
Doe’s parents, on behalf of her estate, claimed the university violated federal law by not immediately notifying the community of the nature of the crime. Doe’s parents also claimed the university failed to have adequate security, as there had been an increase in crime on campus in the two years before Doe’s death, but the school did not address the problem.
The parties settled for $2.5 million before suit was filed, paid by the university’s insurer.
