UC Irvine Harassment Case: $8.7M Verdict for Plaintiff
Table of Contents
Case Background
Rachel Crary studied at the University of California, Irvine from 2014 to 2018. After graduation, she worked as a Junior Specialist Technician under Professor John Guzowski in the Department of Biological Sciences. In 2018, while working in this role, she experienced escalating misconduct.
Cause
Crary alleged that Professor Guzowski made persistent romantic and sexual advances. He contacted her outside work hours, attempted to socialize with her, and suggested her academic future depended on developing a “close friendship” with him. When she declined, he allegedly retaliated—criticizing her performance, damaging her reputation, and harming her graduate school prospects. Crary reported the misconduct to UCI’s Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity. However, she claimed the university conducted only a minimal investigation. The situation worsened, leading to her resignation in November 2019.
Injury
Crary claimed the harassment and retaliation destroyed her p
Continue Reading This Article
Subscribe to access this article and our entire library of legal content.