Inappropriate Professor-Student Relationship: Who is Liable?

South Carolina Lawyer Explains Title IX Violations

Video Transcript:

Rob Rosenthal:

Is there legal liability when a university professor has an inappropriate relationship with a student? We ask South Carolina attorney Randy Hood in this Ask the Lawyers Quick Question.

Randy Hood:

When a professor is pursuing a relationship with a student, I think it crosses the line. And Title IX though is different, most people think Title IX is when the professor does this, that he has liability. Title IX is not really that. Title IX is where that happens with the professor and then you make a complaint to the university and then the university doesn't follow up on that complaint, that's a violation of Title IX. I think there are other state common law causes of action, potential 1983 causes of action against publicly funded institutions, but there are ways to pursue a professor in a civil context for engaging in a relationship with a student.

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