Harvard Settles Federal Sexual Harassment Lawsuit

Harvard University has settled a federal lawsuit filed by three graduate students who accused the institution of ignoring sexual harassment complaints against Professor John Comaroff. The suit, filed in Boston in 2022, was dismissed with prejudice. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed.

Harvard University has reached a settlement in a federal lawsuit brought by three graduate students who alleged the Ivy League school ignored their complaints of sexual harassment by a prominent professor.

The lawsuit, initially filed in Boston in 2022, was dismissed without court costs and with prejudice, preventing further litigation. Federal Magistrate Judge Judith Dein issued the dismissal order on Thursday.

While the specifics of the settlement remain confidential, the students' legal team commended their clients for coming forward and addressing significant issues. The students accused Professor John Comaroff of harassment, including forcible kissing, groping, and retaliatory threats. Comaroff has denied the allegations and announced his retirement from Harvard, stating the claims had been previously deemed lacking in merit by a university investigation.

(With inputs from agencies.)