Salamone v. Wesleyan University

Citations

• 210 Conn. App. 435

Syllabus

The plaintiffs sought to recover damages from the defendant university for personal injuries they sustained as a result of allegedly being sexually assaulted by B while he was a student at the university and a resident advisor or head resident in a dormitory on the university's campus. The plaintiffs alleged that, when they were between thirteen and fifteen years old, B had sexually assaulted them in his dormitory room after he had arranged to meet them there to teach them exercise and stretching routines. The plaintiffs alleged that their injuries were caused by the university's negligent supervision of B in his capacity as a resident advisor or head resident. The trial court granted the university's motion for summary judgment on the ground that the plaintiffs failed to demon- strate that there was a genuine issue of material fact that the alleged sexual assaults were reasonably foreseeable. From the judgment ren- dered thereon, the plaintiffs appealed to this court. Held that the trial court properly rendered summary judgment in favor of the university, that court having correctly determined that the plaintiffs failed to demon- strate the existence of a genuine issue of material fact as to whether the alleged sexual assaults were reasonably foreseeable, as the university presented undisputed evidence that B had no criminal history, com- plaints or accusations either before or during his tenure as a student and resident advisor or head resident at the university, and the plaintiffs failed to present any evidence from which it reasonably could be inferred that the university knew or should have known that B would sexually assault them in his dormitory room. Argued November 9, 2021—officially released February 1, 2022