FLORENCE, Ala. –  The University of North Alabama has responded to a federal lawsuit accusing it of Title IX violations. UNA is asking for a dismissal of the lawsuit based on protections provided by the 11th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.  The Amendment addresses the sovereign immunity of states. That type of immunity is the legal idea that a state is protected from any criminal prosecution or civil suit. UNA claims because it’s a state agency it can’t be sued.

Back in August the lawsuit filed on behalf of a “Jane Doe” alleged that UNA covered up the sexual assault of a student by her professor David Dickerson. Lawyers for the university argue that’s not true.

UNA says after getting word of the accusations, it conducted an investigation and in less than a month were able to place Dickerson on administrative leave. The university also says it issued Dickerson a no-contact order and that he was not allowed back on campus for the remainder of his contract.

UNA did continue to pay Dickerson for the remainder of his employment agreement. UNA President Kenneth Kitts says he made that decision to protect the students involved and avoid possible litigation from Dickerson.

Statements from university officials named in the lawsuit were included in the response filings. We have put together a timeline of the UNA’s version of events based on those statements below.

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