Former law student accuses University of Iowa of mishandling his sex assault report

IOWA CITY - A former University of Iowa law student who says he was suspended from classes, banned from campus and threatened with arrest after repeatedly urging administrators to investigate his assertions of being sexually assaulted on campus has filed a federal complaint against the institution.

Matthew Bailey, 29, filed the lawsuit Thursday in the U.S. Court's southern district of Iowa. It accuses the UI of Title IX violations, including failing to investigate reports of sexual assault and creating a hostile environment.

UI spokeswoman Jeneane Beck said Monday the university denies violating his rights under Title IX and 'will vigorously defend this case.”

Bailey is represented by the Parrish, Kruidenier, Dunn, Boles, Gribble, Gentry, Brown, & Bergmann law firm in Des Moines.

Bailey was a UI law student and employee scheduled to graduate in May. He reported being suspended after an 'emotional” Nov. 30 meeting with UI Law School Dean Gail Agrawal.

Bailey said he went to Agrawal to request a transfer to another law school 'because of the continuing and ongoing hostile environment facing him at the University of Iowa.” He also called the meeting a 'last-ditch effort” to get the university to investigate.

According to Bailey and his petition, that discussion become heated - he admitted raising his voice and calling Agrawal a name.

Later that day, UI officials suspended Bailey, banned him from campus and threatened to arrest him for trespassing 'if he sought treatment at University of Iowa's Hospitals and Clinics,” according to his lawsuit.

Bailey, in his suit, asserted he was assaulted Feb. 14, 2015, and he decided on April 13, 2015, to report it to UI ombudsman Cynthia Joyce.

In the days that followed, he persisted in reporting it to College of Law administrators, Title IX compliance officials and the UI threat assessment team, according to his petition.

He accused the university of failing to investigate at every turn.

Spokeswoman Beck said the university disagrees with his characterizations.

'The university did provide Matthew Bailey with support and accommodations after he reported in April of 2015 that he had been assaulted, but Matthew Bailey refused to identify the other person,” she said. 'Matthew Bailey finally provided the identity of the alleged perpetrator in January 2017, at which point the university promptly investigated his claims.”

Bailey also has filed a lawsuit in Johnson County District Court against the man he says assaulted him.

The defendant has made a counterclaim, denying the claim and accusing Bailey of libel and slander.

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