Summary: Sujit Choudhry, dean of UC-Berkeley School of Law, has resigned his position as dean after a sexual harassment lawsuit was filed against him two days ago.
The University of California’s Berkeley School of Law dean has resigned. Just two days ago, his executive assistant filed a sexual harassment claim against Sujit Choudhry. His resignation was confirmed by a university spokesman.
Read Berkeley Law Dean Accused of Sexual Harassment to learn more.
In the lawsuit, Tyann Sorrell claims that he frequently hugged her, kissed her on the cheek and forehead and would inappropriately touched her soon after he became the dean of the law school in 2014. She alleges that the misconduct continued from July 2014 to when she took paid leave in March 2015.
See UC Berkeley Law School Dean on Medical Leave to learn about problems the school has with their deans.
An investigation by the school done in July 2015 backed up her claims. The internal investigation found recovered evidence and testimony from Choudhry that he had hugged and kissed her as a way of saying “thanks” for her hard work and not in a sexual manner. He also admitted doing this to other women but not expressing his gratitude towards men in a physical way.
Boalt Hall Women’s Association states, “While we await a court of law to determine the exact nature of these allegations, we find UC-Berkeley’s handling of this matter, as described in the complaint and in [university]’s report of investigation and findings, to be grossly inadequate.”
Read Dean Accused of Sexual Harassment Takes Leave of Absence from Law School.
Choudhry was punished by the school’s executive vice chancellor and provost Claude Steele after the July 2015 findings with a dock in salary by 10 percent, a request to receive counseling, and an order to write an apology letter to Sorrell.
Originally the school announced that Choudhry was stepping down as the dean but would keep his post as a faculty member.
Source: http://www.therecorder.com/id=1202751891609/Berkeley-Law-Dean-Resigns
Photo: latimes.com