‘Jane Doe’ appeals verdict in sex assault lawsuit against CMS

CHARLOTTE — The plaintiff in a lawsuit filed against Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is appealing the verdict in her case.

On Jan. 20, a jury ruled that Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools will not have to pay damages in the former Myers Park High School student’s lawsuit over her sexual assault case.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• Lawsuit filed in alleged Myers Park High School rape
• After reaching ‘impasse,’ Myers Park HS student’s sex assault suit will go to trial
• Jury rules CMS will not have to pay damages in student’s sex assault lawsuit

The former student, identified only as “Jane Doe,” filed a notice of appeal on Friday. Her appeal included the following:

• The summary judgement granted to the defendants on Aug. 12, 2022
• Various court orders issued before and during the trial, including one that reduced sanctions against the City of Charlotte and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education
• The decision to dismiss the City of Charlotte from the case
• The jury instructions and jury decision

The former student sued CMS and the City of Charlotte, saying they mishandled her report of a sexual assault that happened near the campus on Nov. 3, 2015. The judge dropped the city from the lawsuit during the course of the trial, leaving CMS as the only defendant.

“Unlike the defendants, the jury believed Jane Doe’s account of what happened,” part of a statement issued by Doe’s lawyers reads. “We will not rest until the City, CMS, and their officials take accountability for their failures that day and more generally toward minors sexually abused in the woods surrounding MPHS.”

Channel 9 reached out to CMS for a response, but a spokesperson said the district does not comment on litigation.

(RELATED: Judge drops City of Charlotte from former CMS student’s sex assault lawsuit)

Judge drops City of Charlotte from former CMS student’s sex assault lawsuit

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