Trusted, Honored, and Awarded
Over $225 Million Recovered For Our Clients

Categories

USC Student Files Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Professor and School

A doctoral student in social work at USC was assaulted and sexually harassed by her dissertation advisor while on a school/work related trip to New Orleans. She is 34 year old Karissa Fenwick. She made an internal complaint to the University and they investigated and made findings that she was, in fact, sexually harassed and the perpetrator, Dr. Guerrero attempted to use his influence over her to get her to not make a complaint. Despite these findings, Dr. Guerrero remained employed at USC. He then challenged the findings claiming that Karissa came on to him and that he was frequently pursued by female students and that he was known as the Hot Latino Professor. Despite providing 9 supposed witnesses to these defenses, not one of the witnesses supported him. Finally, the University administered terribly light discipline of basically a suspension for one semester. The lawsuit claims that the discipline should have been far more serious—he should have been fired. This was the second time that he sexually harassed a student that we know about. Karissa has been forced to avoid campus while Dr. Guerrero continues to work for USC.

Read full complaint here

from Juris Productions

News Coverage:

CBS Los Angeles

USC Student’s Sexual Harassment Claim Backed, But Professor Still On Staff 

Daily Trojan

Student files sexual harassment lawsuit against professor and USC

Social work faculty pens letter condemning USC’s actions after sexual harassment complaint

EDITORIAL BOARD: USC must engage in dialogue with students

KTLA

USC Grad Student Sues Professor, University Over Sexual Harassment

ABC 7

USC Grad Alleges Sexual Harassment by Professor

Los Angeles Daily News

USC Graduate Students Sues University, Associate Professor Over Sexual Harassment 

NBC Los Angeles

Lawsuit Targets USC for Retaining Tenured Professor Accused of Sexual Harassment

LA West Media

“I Was Terrified,” USC Grad Student Says Her Reports Of Sexual Harassment Were Ignored

USC Annenberg Media

USC doctoral student sued the school over its response to sexual harassment

Capital & Main

Students Blast USC’s Handling of Sexual Harassment Case

ATVN News

If You Are Wronged, We Will Make It Right. Schedule A Free Confidential Consultation At Winer, Burritt & Scott, LLP, we empower our clients. We take on the largest law firms, toughest insurance defense lawyers and largest companies with confidence. * Bold text labels are required for submission | We practice in California only.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.