The University of Idaho has agreed to settle a $3-million lawsuit that the family of a graduate student filed after she was gunned down last summer by a psychology professor she had dated, according to the Associated Press.
The university has contended that it did everything it could to protect Kathryn (Katy) Benoit, the 22-year-old graduate student, following her complaints to Idaho administrators last year that one of the institution's faculty members—Ernesto A. Bustamante, an assistant professor of psychology—had harassed her and held a gun to her head several times in the midst of their sexual relationship. The institution released to reporters more than 4,200 documents—including Mr. Bustamante's entire personnel file—and said that it wanted to be as transparent as possible about the case.
But Ms. Benoit's parents filed a lawsuit last December that accused the university of "negligently and recklessly" employed Mr. Bustamante, even though it knew that he had engaged in sexual relationships with female students. The university's policy said sexual relationships between students and faculty members were "unwise" but not forbidden.
Mr. Bustamante quit his faculty job last summer after the university told him about Ms. Benoit's charges of sexual harassment. But a few days later, on the first day of classes this academic year, he shot Ms. Benoit nearly a dozen times at her off-campus home. He then checked into a nearby hotel and killed himself.
According to the Associated Press, the state's Board of Education is expected to consider the settlement later this week. Details of the settlement have not been made public.
Open all references in tabs: [1 - 3]