You may not have heard of Joshua Wright, but his actions have impacted many lives. Wright, a former professor at George Mason’s Antonin Scalia Law School in Virginia and an ex-FTC Commissioner, was accused of sexual misconduct by several of his former students.
Two of those former students, Elyse Dorsey and Angela Landry, filed a Title IX complaint against him in Virginia. They claimed that Wright used his influence to engage in inappropriate relationships with them, which later turned into years-long sexual engagements.
Sexual misconduct complaints were also filed later against Wright while he built a multi-million dollar legal career at the Silicon Valley law firm Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, defending large tech companies. None of these accusations led to significant disciplinary action.
In an investigative story, The Wall Street Journal describes Wright as a “prolific philanderer” who “skirted conflict-of-interest standards to serve his amorous and financial pursuits.”
The allegations have led to a broader conversation about the abuse of power in academic and professional settings. George Mason University’s investigation into the misconduct resulted in Wright’s resignation, and the school subsequently updated its policies to prohibit romantic or sexual relationships between students and faculty, employees, or volunteers.
Wright files $108 million lawsuit against the victims
After the Virginia sexual misconduct allegations surfaced, Wright did not leave quietly. He filed a $108 million defamation lawsuit against Dorsey and Landry, claiming that their statements damaged his reputation and caused financial losses.
Wright even admitted to having sexual relationships with students but argued that these affairs were consensual and that there was no policy against such relationships at the time.
Dorsey and Landry countered Wright’s lawsuit by invoking Virginia’s anti-SLAPP statute, which protects individuals from lawsuits intended to silence their free speech. They argued that their statements were not false and that Wright filed his lawsuit to belittle and ridicule them.
Despite those assertions, a Virginia judge allowed Wright’s lawsuit to proceed. The court also decided that the women’s statements made during the Title IX process can be used against them.
However, the women’s defense points out that their recollections and opinions are protected under free speech laws. The ongoing legal battle highlights the complexities of defamation cases, especially when they involve powerful figures and misconduct allegations.