Ohio Dominican University faces Title IX lawsuit over alleged assault and retaliation
Complaint alleges head coach dismissed incident due to lack of visible injury and that university enforced wage violations following reporting of assault by a player.
A federal lawsuit filed in Ohio alleges that Ohio Dominican University engaged in sex discrimination and retaliation against a female graduate assistant football coach following an assault by a player. Madison Lindamood, one of the few women in a male-dominated profession, initiated the legal action on July 10, citing violations of Title IX and labour standards.
The complaint centres on an incident at a university-sponsored event on 6 March, where Lindamood alleges a player approached her aggressively, made physical contact, and forcibly removed her bag. The lawsuit states she documented bruising on her neck and that the assault was witnessed by another graduate assistant. Despite these details, the complaint alleges that head coach Kelly Cummings dismissed the severity of the incident, asserting a personal definition of assault that required blood or severe bruising.
Lindamood’s legal filing contends that the university’s response constituted institutional retaliation. After reporting the incident to Cummings and the Title IX coordinator, she claims she was excluded from team communications, publicly berated by other staff, and forced into repeated proximity with the alleged assailant. The complaint also notes that the university president’s office initially assured her that raising concerns would not lead to retaliation, a promise the lawsuit says was broken.
Further allegations in the suit point to significant wage violations. Lindamood claims she was paid approximately $1.29 per hour, well below Ohio’s minimum wage of $11, and worked unpaid overtime. The lawsuit states that after her mother filed a complaint regarding the retaliation in April, Cummings left a voicemail ordering her not to return to work, an order she has not been permitted to reverse.
The legal action seeks compensatory and punitive damages, alongside compensation for unpaid wages and overtime. Lindamood’s attorney, Sean Sobel, explained that his client did not report the assault to police due to fears for her safety and job security, noting that internal reporting resulted in the loss of her position regardless. The university has not yet provided a public comment on the allegations.
