A former kicker for the University of Southern California football team is suing the school for wrongful expulsion over a Title IX investigation which took place in 2017.
According to ESPN, Matt Boermeester filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles federal court last week over the results of the school’s investigation into an alleged physical altercation between him and his girlfriend Zoe Katz outside of his home in 2017.
At the time, Boermeester was suspended and his athletic scholarship was put on hold. He was later expelled in May 2017 despite his girlfriend’s repeated claims that he never abused her. Katz and Moermeester are still dating today.
“Mr. Boermeester and Ms. Katz joked around about Mr. Boermeester’s role in USC’s Rose Bowl win, threw French fries at each other, and laughed together,” according to the lawsuit.
“During this interaction, Mr. Boermeester playfully put one hand on Ms. Katz’s neck, in an intimate manner. They then entered Ms. Katz’s building together.”
Boermeester has alleged the school of “gender bias” and forcing sanctions onto him because he was a male athlete. He is seeking reinstatement and an unspecified amount in damages.
“Mr. Boermeester has in fact suffered severe emotional distress including anxiety, stress, depression, hopelessness, headaches, insomnia, weight loss, loss of appetite, humiliation, reputational damages, and mental anguish,” the suit states.
Last year, a California state court overturned his lawsuit, supporting the school’s investigation and upholding the statements of the witnesses. Meanwhile, in a statement to USA TODAY, USC has said it acted on the basis of evidence and stands by its internal investigation.