Brown v. Board of Trustees, Boston University
United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts
674 F. Supp. 393 (1987)
- Written by Mike Begovic, JD
Facts
Dr. Julia Prewitt Brown (plaintiff) was a tenured professor at Boston University (defendant). Brown was denied a promotion despite being well regarded by her colleagues, and she filed suit against the Board of Trustees of Boston University (the board) (defendant), alleging sex discrimination in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. A jury found in favor of Brown, awarding her $200,000. As an additional remedy, Brown then requested reinstatement to associate professor with tenure, immediate promotion to full professor, a paid sabbatical, and an order for retirement contributions. Brown also sought damages for emotional distress under state law. At trial, Brown offered testimony from her therapist about her state of mind and emotional state following the denial of her promotion. At the time, Brown was going through a divorce and struggling to maintain a healthy relationship with her child.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Skinner, J.)
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