Fourth Circuit Sends Sexual Harassment Suit Back to Federal Court in Greensboro

Yesterday, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a former UNC-Chapel Hill soccer player should be allowed to a trial of her claims that coach Anson Dorrance sexually harassed her and that the school failed to respond properly to her complaints.

A federal judge in Greensboro dismissed the claims in 2004.

As reported here and here, the Fourth Circuit, in an 8-2 ruling, ordered the case back to Greensboro for trial.

The Court's opinion states: "The facts, when viewed in the light most favorable to Jennings, show that Dorrance's persistent, sex-oriented discussions, both in team settings and in private, were degrading and humiliating to his players because they were women. His conduct went far beyond simple teasing and qualified as sexual harassment."

UPDATE: The full opinion can be found here.