NIC settles lawsuit with former student who claimed she was raped
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 8 years, 2 months AGO
A civil lawsuit filed against a former North Idaho College student who alleged she was gang-raped while intoxicated at an off-campus party in 2013 has been settled and dismissed.
The college released details of the settlement agreement early Thursday.
“ICRMP procured the settlement in the amount of $75,000 to limit the costs and distraction associated with lengthy litigation,” said a statement issued by the college.
The lawsuit, filed in September in U.S. District Court, claimed NIC violated the requirements of Title IX by failing to respond to the student's reports of the sexual assault or take corrective action.
Under Title IX — the civil rights law that prohibits federally funded education programs from discriminating on the basis of sex — sexual violence can be considered sex discrimination.
The settlement agreement acknowledges that NIC denies any liability or wrongdoing regarding the student's allegations in her lawsuit.
“[The student] further agreed the settlement was the compromise of doubtful and disputed claims and that she agrees to release NIC from any claims and to dismiss the current lawsuit,” said the college, in its statement.
The settlement amount is paid solely through ICRMP.
"The settlement is not paid by NIC and does not impact the school’s operating budget or funding," said the college’s statement.
The student reported the alleged sexual assault to the Coeur d’Alene Police Department in February 2014. The police investigation did not lead to any arrests and no charges were ever filed against anyone involved.