Opinion ID: 2342242
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: evidence of other victims

Text: We next address the TBR's assertion that the Chancellor committed error by failing to consider the claims of a number of women who also allege they were sexually harassed by Dr. Wells. In his Memorandum and Final Order, the Chancellor recognized that [i]n addition to Ms. Hayes [Jordan], the Respondents [TBR] presented evidence at the administrative hearing from four other women regarding incidents of alleged misconduct by Dr. Wells. The Chancellor then discussed the allegations and credibility of the testimony of these four women. The TBR points out that the record contained allegations of eight alleged victims, and that the Chancellor's failure to discuss some of these allegations in the final order indicates a blatant disregard for their claims. Accordingly, the TBR insists that the Chancellor's findings are not supported by a preponderance of the evidence. We acknowledge that in his final order the Chancellor discussed only the testimony of the alleged victims who testified at the faculty committee tenure hearing, and not at the ALJ hearing. [3] However the claims of the other alleged victims, who testified only at the ALJ hearing, were also contained in the record, and nothing indicates that the Chancellor refused to consider their testimony. We therefore reject the TBR's assertion that the Chancellor failed to consider these allegations in making his factual determinations. Moreover, as we have pointed out, the TBR could have filed a motion to alter or amend the judgment pursuant to Tenn. R. Civ. P. 59 if it believed the Chancellor disregarded pertinent testimony. The TBR did not do so.