Detroit Lions wide receiver Quintez Cephus is suing his alma mater, Wisconsin, over a dismissed sexual assault charge he faced while a student. Cephus claims the university made him a scapegoat and failed to act properly and fairly in the investigation around the alleged assault.
Cephus is seking unspecified damages in the lawsuit, which was filed in federal court in Madison. The Lions wideout is accusing the defendants of violating his due process rights, violating Title IX protections and breach of contract.
Among the defendants listed on the lawsuit are Wisconsin Chancellor Rebecca Blank, campus Title IX coordinator Lauren Hasselbacher and the school’s board of regents.
Cephus was acquitted of charges in a jury trial. But that came after Wisconsin dismissed him from the football team and expelled him from school on the basis of the allegations. Cephus’s attorney said the lawsuit hopes to prevent future cases where prominent student-athletes are accused and not given a fair chance to defend themselves.
