Case History
Ruth Daly, a former assistant professor of physics at Princeton University, sued the university for sex discrimination in the denial of tenure and sexual harassment in violation of New Jersey state laws.

Daly joined the Department of Physics in 1988, was appointed instructor in 1989, and was appointed assistant professor in 1990. In 1996 Daly was considered for tenure; in 1997 tenure was denied. She appealed the decision to no avail and was terminated in 1998.

Daly alleged that her qualifications, including teaching, service, and research, are at least as good as similarly situated male faculty who received tenure. However, she stated that male faculty dismissed her work or downplayed its significance and excluded women from important departmental functions. Daly also noted that a senior male faculty member once mentioned to her that the first woman tenured in the physics department would “at least” have to have a Nobel Prize. At the time of Daly's employment, no female physics professor had ever held tenure.

Daly filed suit in New Jersey state court in 1998. In October 2004, days before trial was scheduled to begin, the parties reached a confidential settlement. 

Key Case Issue
Sex discrimination in the denial of tenure and sexual harassment in violation of New Jersey state laws.

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