Jury slaps Newman University with $800k verdict for Title VII / Title IX retaliation

On January 13, 2020, a federal jury in Wichita, Kansas awarded former Newman University professor Cindy Louthan, Ed.D., a verdict of $801,550.50. Graybill & Hazlewood attorneys Sean McGivern and Don Peterson represented Dr. Louthan. Newman non-renewed Dr. Louthan’s employment in February 2018 because she made good faith reports of sex discrimination to senior executives of the University. The bulk of the jury verdict was punitive damages, intended to punish Newman University for its malicious conduct.

The verdict received nationwide coverage, including this article in the Wichita Eagle. The parties ultimately reached a substantial monetary settlement to forgo further litigation and appeals. As of the date of this blog post, Dr. Kim McDowall Long – the individual responsible for the illegal retaliation – remains employed as the Provost of Newman University.

Newman University faces four more employee lawsuits slated for trial in 2020 and 2021.