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Bradley L. Rice and Jay J. Rice of Nagel Rice LLP settled a wrongful death case arising out of the sexual assault of Cherelle Locklear, 21 years old, that went uninvestigated by her college, William Paterson University for $800,000.
On November 22, 2015, Cherelle Locklear, 21 years old, committed suicide approximately two months after being sexually assaulted by a former student of William Paterson University and former member of the Sigma Pi Fraternity, Theta Tau Chapter of William Paterson University.
Ms. Marquesa Jackson-Locklear, Cherelle’s mother and the administratix to the estate of Cherelle Locklear, filed suit against William Paterson University, certain of its employees, and the Theta Tau Chapter alleging their failure to comply with Federal Title IX requirements and negligence in the reporting, investigation and handling of Cherelle’s reports of sexual assault prior to her death. The parties mediated the case before the Honorable Dennis M. Cavanaugh (U.S.D.J. ret.) and reached an agreement to settle the matter against all defendants, with defendant William Paterson University agreeing to pay $800,000 and defendant the Theta Tau Chapter settling for an undisclosed confidential amount.
For more information:
March 8, 2019 – Settlement Reached in Frat-House Rape Case
March 5, 2019 – N.J. college pays $800K to family of student who reported rape, then killed herself
March 4, 2019 – William Paterson University Settles Title IX Claim for $800,000