Attorney Charles B. Wayne, “John Doe” and his mother, Mary “Doe,” exit the federal courthouse Tuesday for a lunch break.A federal jury will decide if Sewanee: The University of the South treated a former student fairly by expelling him following a 2008 rape accusation.
It also will decide if the student is entitled to money because of the school’s actions.
Attorneys finished closing arguments Thursday morning, the seventh day of the trial in a lawsuit alleging negligence and breach of contract. The former student’s attorneys asked the jury for $5.5 million in compensation for damage to his reputation and future job prospects.
The former student, identified only as John Doe in court documents, alleges that the university failed to protect him by not giving him a fair hearing after another student, identified only as A.B. in court documents, accused him of rape.
A.B. left Sewanee after making the charges and never pursued a criminal case against Doe.