New developments in Notre Dame sexual harassment case

Three parties from the University of Notre Dame sexual harassment lawsuit met in court Friday. 

Their discussion was in regards to what information is to be made public and private.

The case involves an anonymous student, John Doe, suing the university one of their former employees for alleged sexual harassment.

The defendant, an anonymous woman, Jane Roe, a former employee of Notre Dame, is accused sexually harassing Doe.

Roe filed a protective order, asking that certain information be kept private during the discovery process of the case.

The student’s lawyers disagree with the current order, and wish to discuss it further with the defense attorneys to draft a new order.

“There is agreement that a large amount or certain amount of information is protectable. The question is to what extent and how broad should that be,” Peter Agostino, lawyer for the student said.

Under Judge Michael Scopelitis, a retired judge brought in for special St. Joseph County cases, all attorneys agreed to come up with a new protective order together within the next few weeks.

The final version of the protective order will only keep certain information private during the discovery process, it will not apply if the case goes to trial.

“The public would certainly be interested in many of the aspects but the truth is the public doesn’t have a right to know many of the other aspects, and that’s really what we’re trying to get on the same page with,” Ed Sullivan, the lawyer for the defendant said.

Notre Dame’s attorney declined to comment to ABC 57, but said in court the university does not oppose the first draft of the protective order originally proposed by the defendant.