A former Ohio University student filed a lawsuit Friday against the university, which she claims was negligent after a former OU football player sexually and emotionally abused her.
The woman, who is referred to as “Jane Doe #1” to maintain her privacy, is a 21-year-old woman. The publicity of her true identity will cause further trauma, according to the lawsuit.
She is also suing a former OU football player, Amir Miller.
Miller, who was an OU defensive lineman, and the woman were in a romantic relationship for two years during which Miller, “systematically physically, sexually, and emotionally abused” her, according to the lawsuit.
Miller was charged with menacing by stalking in the Athens County Common Pleas Court in January 2020, but the case was dismissed.
The woman and her parents are also suing OU President Duane Nellis, the Board of Trustees, Board chair David Scholl and Dave Moore, who is the secretary of the board.
They are also suing Jim Schaus, the former athletic director; John Bowman, an athletic trainer; OU’s head football coach, Frank Solich; the assistant athletic director, Chris Rodgers; the director and the Title IX Coordinator, Kerri Griffin; and the assistant director and deputy Title IX coordinator, Karen Petko.
The abuse included physical assaults where she was punched and knocked to the ground, according to the suit. She was also allegedly imprisoned, sexually imposed and raped.
When the woman tried to end the relationship, Miller allegedly stalked her and her friends.
The woman made complaints to OU employees, but there was nothing done, according to the lawsuit.
Title IX coordinators were aware of Miller’s sexual abuse and harassment, but they chose to ignore her complaints, according to the suit.
The woman’s parents, who also remain anonymous, are also suing OU for being negligent and for suffering from emotional distress, according to the lawsuit.
The university’s actions were “extreme and outrageous that went well beyond all possible bounds of decency and should be considered utterly intolerable in a civilized community,” according to the lawsuit.
In April 2018, OU and the employees had a notice about Miller’s sexual harassment and abuse.
The woman also claimed OU established a practice that fostered a climate facilitating sexual abuse. She was deprived of her constitutional liberty interest and equal protection, according to the lawsuit.
The woman is also claiming she was subjected to discrimination because of her gender, because she was sexually assaulted and had emotional distress because of another student.
She claimed that OU failed to take appropriate action, acting with deliberate indifference to her, according to the lawsuit.
