CAI Community-Cheerleader drops sexual harassment lawsuit against Northwestern University

2025-05-02 19:38:18source:Maxwell Caldwellcategory:Markets

EVANSTON,CAI Community Ill. (AP) — A cheerleader has dropped her federal sexual harassment lawsuit against Northwestern University.

Hayden Richardson filed the lawsuit in the Northern District of Illinois in January 2021 alleging drunken fans and alumni groped her at school-sanctioned events in 2018 and 2019 and that administrators tried to cover up her complaints.

Online court records show Richardson agreed to withdraw the lawsuit on Monday and Judge Edward Chang approved the move Tuesday. The records don’t indicate why Richardson dropped the lawsuit. Richardson’s attorney, Andrew Miltenberg, declined to comment. Northwestern attorney Alan Pittler didn’t immediately return a message.

Richardson alleged in the lawsuit that the cheer team’s coach at the time, Pam Bonnevier, required female cheerleaders to mingle with powerful donors to help bring in more money for the university. She said that older men touched her over her uniform, picked her up without her consent, made sexual comments about her appearance and offered her alcohol even though she was underage.

The lawsuit named former Athletic Director Mike Polisky as a defendant. He stepped down in May 2021 after just a week on the job, saying “current challenges” would not allow him to lead effectively and he didn’t want to be a distraction.

The Associated Press typically does not identify people who allege they are victims of sexual assault or harassment but is naming Richardson because she has spoken publicly about her allegations.

More:Markets

Recommend

'Love is Blind' in hot water with labor watchdog for violations, mistreatment

After seven seasons and several international spinoffs, we're still not sure if "Love is Blind" − bu

Philips agrees to pay $1.1 billion settlement after wide-ranging CPAP machine recall

Medical device company Philips reached a settlement Monday to shell out $1.1 billion to cover hundre

Stock market today: Asian shares mostly rise to start a week full of earnings, Fed meeting

TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares mostly rose Tuesday, as investors kept their eyes on potentially market-mo