4th Circuit Allows Harassment Suit Againt Coach

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4th Circuit Allows Harassment Suit Againt Coach

Posted Apr 10, 2007, 08:57 am CDT
By Debra Cassens Weiss

A federal appeals court has ruled that a sexual harassment lawsuit may proceed against a soccer coach at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Plaintiff Melissa Jennings claims coach Anson Dorrance had degrading, sex-oriented discussions, the News and Observer reports.

In an en banc ruling, the Richmond, Va.-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit said the coach’s alleged conduct met federal standards for sexual harassment.

Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond, says he was surprised at the size of the majority in the 8-2 ruling, especially since the 4th Circuit is considered a conservative court.

Dorrance has argued he was joking. His teams have won 18 NCAA titles.