Schedule a consultation with an experienced St. Louis Title IX lawyer today.
If you or your child has experienced sex discrimination, sexual harassment, or retaliation at a school or university in St. Louis, federal law may give you more options than you realize. Our St. Louis, MO Title IX lawyer at TGH Litigation represents students, parents, and faculty navigating these situations across Missouri. We offer free initial consultations to help you understand your position and what to do next.
Title IX Lawyer St. Louis, MO
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a federal civil rights law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in any educational program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. Nearly every public school, university, and college in the country receives some form of federal funding, which means Title IX applies almost universally.
What falls under Title IX is often misunderstood. It covers sexual harassment, sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, and retaliation against students who report them. It also applies to discrimination in athletics, academic programs, and employment at educational institutions. A St. Louis Title IX attorney helps individuals understand whether their situation qualifies, what the school’s obligations were, and whether the institution failed to meet them.
Schools and universities have specific legal obligations under Title IX. They’re required to have a designated Title IX coordinator, publish a grievance policy, and respond promptly when they receive a complaint. Whether the institution followed those requirements, and how it handled the process once a complaint was made, is often as legally significant as the underlying conduct itself. In many cases, the school’s response is where liability is established or lost.
Types of Title IX Cases We Handle in St. Louis
TGH Litigation works with students, parents, faculty, and staff on Title IX matters involving a range of conduct and institutional failures. Here’s what those cases typically look like:
- School harassment. This includes unwanted sexual conduct by a teacher, staff member, or fellow student that is severe or pervasive enough to deny a student equal access to education. Schools have an obligation to respond when they know or should know this is happening.
- Student sexual assault. When a school fails to properly investigate or respond to a report of sexual assault, or retaliates against the student who reported, that failure can be actionable under Title IX. We’ve handled cases involving universities and K-12 institutions.
- Title IX investigations and hearings. Both complainants and respondents have rights during a school’s Title IX grievance process. The investigation process carries real consequences for academic futures on both sides.
- Retaliation. Title IX prohibits schools from retaliating against anyone who reports a violation or participates in an investigation. Retaliation can include grade changes, academic sanctions, and housing decisions.
- Athletics discrimination. Title IX requires schools to provide equal athletic opportunities for male and female students. Disproportionate funding or unequal treatment of athletic programs can be the basis of a complaint.
- Discrimination in education. Beyond sexual misconduct, Title IX covers broader sex-based discrimination in academic programs, admissions, and other school activities.
- Faculty and staff claims. Title IX protections extend to employees of educational institutions. Teachers and university employees who face sex discrimination or harassment at work can bring Title IX claims alongside other employment law claims.
- Administrative complaints. Title IX complaints can be filed with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights as an alternative or complement to litigation. We help clients determine which path makes the most sense.
Why Choose TGH Litigation as My Title IX Lawyer in St. Louis, Missouri?
Deep Roots in Missouri Civil Rights and Education Law
TGH Litigation was built around civil rights work. The firm’s founding partners have handled Title IX matters, school discrimination cases, and employment disputes at educational institutions throughout Missouri for over 80 combined years.
Joanna Trachtenberg has represented students, parents, teachers, and faculty in school and university administrative proceedings across Missouri, including Title IX and civil rights investigations, student conduct proceedings, and tenure and promotion matters. Her background includes an M.A. in Women’s Studies from the University of Limerick and a J.D. cum laude from New York University School of Law, credentials that inform her approach to cases involving gender-based discrimination and institutional power.
J. Andrew Hirth brings a broad federal practice to Title IX litigation. He’s admitted before the U.S. Supreme Court and multiple federal circuit courts, including the Eighth Circuit. His work has been recognized publicly; he was named a Super Lawyer and has handled high-profile civil rights matters at both the state and federal level.
Julianne Germinder is a Washington University School of Law graduate who received the Women’s Justice Award from Missouri Lawyers Media, a recognition that speaks to the caliber of her civil rights work. TGH Litigation’s Title IX practice is part of its broader work as a school discrimination lawyer in St. Louis, MO.
Results That Reflect the Work
TGH Litigation has obtained significant verdicts in cases involving sex discrimination and retaliation at educational institutions in Missouri. The firm has helped clients recover millions of dollars in cases against St. Louis Public Schools and other institutional defendants. That kind of result comes from attorneys willing to take a case to trial rather than look for the quickest conclusion.
What Is Important To Understand About Title IX Cases?
Charges, Violations, and Legal Remedies for Title IX Cases
Title IX claims generally require showing that the institution received federal funding, that you were subjected to discrimination or harassment based on sex, and that the institution either participated in the conduct or had notice of it and failed to respond appropriately. Key concepts include:
- Deliberate indifference: A school violates Title IX when an official with authority to act responds in a way that is clearly unreasonable.
- Hostile environment: Sexual harassment so severe, pervasive, or objectively offensive that it effectively denies the victim equal access to education.
- Quid pro quo harassment: When a school employee conditions educational benefits on submission to sexual conduct.
- Retaliation: Any adverse action taken against someone because they reported a Title IX violation or cooperated in an investigation.
- Remedies: Title IX allows for compensatory damages, injunctive relief, and attorney’s fees in appropriate cases.
What Are Important Aspects of a Title IX Case?
How an institution handles a complaint matters as much as what happened. Key considerations include whether the school followed its own grievance procedures, how quickly it investigated after receiving a report, whether both parties had fair opportunities to present their accounts, and whether any interim protective measures were put in place. Timing also matters significantly when establishing retaliation.
What Is the Title IX Case Timeline?
- Consultation and intake. We review what happened, identify the legal claims, and explain your options, including both the administrative and litigation tracks.
- School grievance process. If the institution’s process is still active, we advise on your rights throughout, including hearings and appeals.
- OCR complaint. A complaint can be filed with the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, which has authority to investigate and require corrective action.
- Federal litigation. If the institution’s failure is actionable in court, we file suit in federal district court. Discovery, depositions, and trial may follow.
- Resolution. Some cases resolve through settlement; others go to verdict. We prepare every case as though it’s going to trial.
What Should You Bring to Your Title IX Consultation?
We recommend meeting with us as soon as possible. Some deadlines are fixed and cannot be extended. For your consultation, bring these items with you if you can:
- Any written communications with the school, including emails, letters, formal notices, or investigation findings.
- A written account of what happened and when is helpful.
- Documentation of how the school responded and any records of adverse treatment that followed your report.
Missouri and Federal Legal Resources for Title IX Cases
Title IX cases draw on both federal law and institutional policy. Here are the primary resources:
- The U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights accepts complaints against schools for Title IX violations and has the authority to require corrective action.
- Title IX’s education amendments are available through the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.
- The Missouri Commission on Human Rights handles state-level civil rights complaints that may run parallel to Title IX claims.
- The Office for Civil Rights complaint process is separate from litigation and carries its own procedural timeline.
Reach Out to TGH Litigation to Schedule a Consultation
TGH Litigation offers free initial consultations for Title IX matters in St. Louis and across Missouri. We’ll review your situation, explain your rights under federal law, and tell you what your options look like. These cases often have fixed deadlines for school grievance processes, agency complaint windows, and statutes of limitations. Waiting too long can limit what’s available to you. Contact us to set up your consultation.