Yale School of Medicine, Sterling HallFLICKR, KEVIN813

The family of Annie Le, the Yale University graduate student who was murdered by a lab technician in September 2009 at the Yale Animal Research Center, has filed a lawsuit against Yale University and Yale School of Medicine citing that the school failed to protect Le despite previous indications that the technician, Raymond Clark, posed a threat to her safety. The lawsuit goes further in claiming the university has a long history of negligence when it comes to protecting women against aggression and harassment. According to the 10-page lawsuit, "sexual attacks on and harassment of women at Yale had been a well-documented and long-standing problem, and there was a widespread belief that Yale repeatedly failed to impose meaningful discipline on offenders."

The lawsuit also accuses Yale of not responding quickly enough after people became aware that Le hadn’t returned to her home...

Paul Slager and Joseph Tacopina, the attorneys representing Le’s family, said in a statement, that "based on Yale's negligence in, among other things, hiring, retaining and supervising Clark, and providing a safe and secure environment for Annie Le, Ms. Le endured a brutal physical and sexual attack, resulting in significant conscious suffering before her death, for which Yale is liable." (Hat tip to The Chronicle)

Interested in reading more?

Become a Member of

Receive full access to more than 35 years of archives, as well as TS Digest, digital editions of The Scientist, feature stories, and much more!
Already a member?