Two women who accused former George Mason University law professor Joshua Wright of sexual misconduct have alleged that Wright’s $108 million defamation lawsuit against them is a punitive measure. Speaking in a Virginia court, they claimed the lawsuit aims to publicly shame, harass, and detrimentally impact their professional lives.
The parties involved in the litigation brought their arguments before a judge on Tuesday, with the accusers saying the former law professor is attempting to silence them through litigation. Joshua Wright is reputedly suing for the substantial sum to not only discredit their allegations but reprimand them for bringing his behavior into public scrutiny.
The consequential fallout from the alleged sexual misconduct and subsequent defamation lawsuit introduces a complex legal predicament which resonates across educational institutions, law firms, and corporate legal departments. This litigation could become a reference point for precedent in academic sexual misconduct allegations and the defamation suits that may follow them.
A detailed account of this ongoing legal battle can be found here.