Pending litigation against Sacramento State alleges the university willfully created a dangerous environment on campus and is negligent in enforcing safety policies. Sac State is accused of failing to prevent underage drinking on campus and failing to provide safe housing.

The lawsuit was filed on Nov. 14 by a student who said she was raped while intoxicated in the American River Courtyard residence halls by another student. University Police is accused of failing to investigate the case properly and contaminating the evidence in the lawsuit.

Emphasized in the suit are the seven sexual assault incidents on campus over the past year and a half and a lack of charges being filed against anyone. The student is seeking more than $1 million in damages.

The university responded in January by filing a demurrer, refuting responsibility for the claims.

Lawyers for the university state in the complaint filed there is no statutory basis for public entity liability and the university defendants named are immune from liability for the perceived failure of university police and the alleged wrongdoing of students.

The California State University Board of Trustees, which is named as a defendant in the case, had the case listed as significant litigation the CSU system is facing in its last committee meeting in March.

Calls to representatives for both sides of the case were not returned. The next hearing in the case will be on May 25.

Mitchell Wilson can be reached at [email protected].