Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
02/16/2012
Contact:
Katie Broendel, broendelk@aauw.org
202/785-7761
Lisa Goodnight, goodnightl@aauw.org
202/785-7738
Parties Announce Settlement of UC Davis Title IX Athletics Discrimination Suit Brought by Former Students
WASHINGTON—The University of California and former UC Davis female student wrestlers Arezou Mansourian, Christine Ng, and Lauren Mancuso announced today that they have reached an agreement to settle the issues remaining after the findings made by a federal judge last August in the liability phase of trial in the case. The American Association of University Women (AAUW) Legal Advocacy Fund supported the plaintiffs in this case and commends the $1.35 million settlement in their favor.
The U.S. District Court for Eastern California found that the university violated Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 by not sufficiently expanding intercollegiate athletic opportunities for female students at UC Davis between 1998 and 2005, the years that the plaintiffs were in attendance. The court dismissed the plaintiffs' claim against four university employees (all now retired), holding that the employees did not violate the Equal Protection Clause or were entitled to qualified immunity in their handling of the plaintiffs' requests relating to women's wrestling.
The damages phase of the trial on the Title IX claim was scheduled to start on March 5, 2012. The parties chose instead to resolve all remaining issues, including any possible appeals, with payment by the university of $1.35 million to the plaintiffs' counsel for attorneys' fees and costs incurred during the lengthy case.
"AAUW has supported this case for seven years, and our California members reached out and filled the courtroom during the case's three-week trial last spring," said AAUW Executive Director Linda D. Hallman, CAE. "While we were proud to stand up with these plaintiffs for what's right and fair, we look forward to the day when it doesn't take a lawsuit to enforce Title IX."
"I am pleased with the outcome of the case. At the same time, however, it serves as a reminder that no matter how much progress we have made in the struggle for equality, there is still much more that needs to be done," said Lauren Mancuso, a plaintiff in Mansourian v. Regents of the University of California. "I cannot express enough gratitude toward the members of the AAUW for their continuing support in this case over the years and for the inspirational stories of their own personal experiences fighting for the passage of Title IX in 1972."
AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund support has been instrumental in the success of many gender discrimination cases during its 31-year history. The case-support program provides financial and organizational backing for a select number of cases that have the potential to provide significant protections for gender equity. The funds come directly from the generous contributions of AAUW members. Other LAF initiatives include community and campus outreach programs, an Online Resource Library with downloadable advocacy tools, a Legal Referral Network, and research reports.
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The American Association of University Women (AAUW) advances equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, philanthropy, and research. Since 1881, AAUW has been one of the nation’s leading voices promoting education and equity for women and girls. AAUW has a nationwide network of more than 100,000 members and donors, 1,000 branches, and 600 college/university institutional partners. Since AAUW's founding 130 years ago, members have examined and taken positions on the fundamental issues of the day — educational, social, economic, and political. AAUW's commitment to educational equity is reflected in its public policy advocacy, community programs, leadership development, conventions and conferences, national partnerships, and international connections.