A former law student has filed a lawsuit against a prestigious university and several associated parties, alleging defamation, civil rights violations, and discrimination that have significantly impacted her career prospects. Yasmeen Elagha initiated the complaint in Cook County Circuit Court, targeting Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law and other defendants.
The case has been removed to federal court in Chicago.
The lawsuit outlines an account of alleged harassment and alleged false accusations faced by Elagha during her time at Northwestern University. According to the complaint, Elagha was subjected to a campaign of defamation orchestrated by fellow students Melody Mostow and Anita Kinney. These students allegedly fabricated claims of assault and battery against Elagha, which were reported to university authorities and various media outlets including The Daily Signal and The Tennessee Star. Despite being aware of the falsity of these allegations, university officials such as Dean Hari Osofsky and Associate Dean Susan Michelle Spies Roth reportedly failed to take corrective action. This inaction purportedly led to the loss of Elagha's job offer from DLA Piper, a prominent law firm.
Elagha's legal team argues that the defendants' actions were not only defamatory but also discriminatory based on her Palestinian Muslim identity. The lawsuit claims that Northwestern University violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act by failing to address the hostile environment created by these false allegations. Furthermore, it accuses the university's police department of maintaining inaccurate records that perpetuated harm to Elagha's reputation.
Elagha is demanding compensatory damages exceeding $100,000 for lost career opportunities and emotional distress caused by the defendants' alleged misconduct. She also seeks punitive damages to deter similar behavior in the future. The complaint highlights specific instances where media outlets published defamatory articles despite allegedly knowing their inaccuracy, allegedly exacerbating Elagha's professional challenges.
Representing Yasmeen Elagha are attorneys from Advanta Law PLC and The Shiraz Law Firm PLLC, with Waleed Naser and Farah Chalisa serving as local counsel.