Old Dominion University Student & Faculty Sexual Abuse Investigation

Lieff Cabraser is investigating reports of the sexual assault and harassment of students and professors by at least one member of the faculty at Old Dominion University. A report released December 20th, 2021, reviewed multiple sexual misconduct allegations made against Professor Blake Bailey while he worked at ODU between 2010 and 2016, as well as the university’s response to the abuse allegations. While acknowledging that author and biographer Bailey sexually assaulted and harassed at least two women while working as a visiting professor at Old Dominion, the report revealed that administration leaders who knew of Bailey’s assaults failed to hold him responsible or help the women he harmed.

The report also called out recently retired Old Dominion President John Broderick, describing him as defensive, evasive and combative during two interviews with investigators. Old Dominion hired an outside law firm to investigate allegations that Bailey — winner of multiple national writing awards — sexually assaulted and harassed multiple women during his time at the university. According to the report, the women included a female professor, a visiting writer, and two graduate students. Old Dominion University, located in Norfolk, is a public research university with more than 24,000 students and over 900 faculty.

Contact us

Lieff Cabraser partner Annika K. Martin is leading the investigation by our firm on behalf of students and faculty who allege they were sexually abused and/or harassed at Old Dominion  University. You can contact Annika by telephone at 212 355-9500 or you can use the confidential form below. There is no charge or obligation for your outreach, and all information will be held in the strictest confidence.

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