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Judge: Fired Ohio State Band Director's Lawsuit May Proceed

Jonathan Waters
Nick Houser
/
WOSU
Former Ohio State Marching Band Director Jonathan Waters

A federal judge has ruled that the fired Ohio State University band director's lawsuit against the school may proceed.

Judge James Graham on Friday denied Ohio State's request to dismiss the civil rights lawsuit filed by Jonathan Waters.

Waters was fired last summer after an internal investigation found that he turned a blind eye to what the school described as the band's "sexualized culture."

Waters' suit accused the university, President Michael Drake and a provost of discriminating against him. He said they denied him due process and disciplined him differently than a female employee.

The judge ruled that the university didn't violate Water's due process rights but said the suit could proceed on the grounds of reverse discrimination.

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