Columbia University Sexual Harassment Case
Case name: Ravina v. Columbia University
Case type: Sexual Harassment / Retaliation
Filed in: [United States District Court for the Southern District of New York]
Docket: [1:16-CV-02137]
Case Summary
In 2018, Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight won one of the first major trials of the #MeToo era, brought by Columbia junior faculty member Enrichetta Ravina against Columbia University and one of its senior professors, Geert Bekaert.
The Complaint alleged that Professor Bekaert sexually harassed Professor Ravina and then blocked her research progress after she spurned his advances. The Complaint further alleged that Columbia University retaliated against Professor Ravina after she made repeated complaints against Professor Bekaert.
After a lengthy trial, the jury found Columbia and Professor Bekaert liable for retaliating against Professor Ravina and issued a $1.25 million verdict in favor of Professor Ravina.
The case heightened public awareness about the dynamics of sexual harassment and retaliation in the workplace and spurred calls to action—within academia and beyond—to implement stronger institutional protections. Commentators observed that “the academic world, and especially the economic and finance profession, can learn immensely” from the case, and that “[t]his verdict should send a message, not just to academia, but to all employers.”
Procedural History
News Coverage
- When tenure trumps Title IX: 6 takeaways from Spectator’s investigation into faculty sexual misconduct
- Prof Wants To Put Ex-Colleague On Secret Email Probation
- Letter to the American Finance Association Board
- The First “Me Too” Verdict in New York Should Send A Strong Message to Managers and Employers
- Former Columbia U Prof Awarded $1.25M in Perv Retaliation Suit
- Jury Awards $1.25 Million in University Harassment Case But Denies Retaliation Claim
- Appeal Planned By Former CBS Prof
- This Columbia Professor Allegedly Told His Coworker He Was “Horny” And Tried To Kiss Her. A Jury Said It’s Not Sexual Harassment.
- Former Columbia Prof Gets $1.25M Retaliation Award
- Columbia Bias Suit Ends in $1.3 Million Payout to Ex-Professor
Attorneys Involved in the Case
Press Releases
- July 26, 2018 – Sanford Heisler Sharp Wins Jury Verdict of Liability for Retaliation Against Columbia Business School Professor, Geert Bekaert, and Columbia University
- July 9, 2018 – Sanford Heisler Sharp $30 Million Sexual Harassment and Retaliation Lawsuit Against Columbia University Goes to Trial
- July 7, 2016 – Sanford Heisler Sharp Files $30 Million Amended Complaint Against Columbia University and Adds Senior Tenured Professor as Defendant
- March 23, 2016 – Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight Sues Columbia University for $20 Million