Lawsuits
Ex-Harvard Chemist Charles Lieber Joins Chinese University
Former Harvard Chemistry professor Charles M. Lieber, who was convicted of lying to federal authorities about his ties to China in 2021, took a new job as a professor at a Chinese university last week.
Visiting Campus, Admitted Students Cheer On Harvard’s Fight Against Trump
Harvard’s ongoing fight with the Trump Administration and its refusal to oblige the White House’s demands drew positive reactions from members of the Class of 2029 as they arrived on campus this past weekend for Visitas, the College’s annual admitted students’ weekend.
Harvard Fights in Court but Retreats on Campus
Even as Harvard takes the White House to court and insists that it won’t be coerced by federal pressure, the University is rolling out changes that seem to concede to some of the very demands that it claims are unconstitutional.
Judge Denies Motion To Dismiss AAUP Lawsuit Against Trump Administration Immigration Policies
The Harvard chapter of the American Association of University Professors’s lawsuit against the federal government’s immigration policies will move forward despite the Trump administration’s motion to dismiss, a federal judge ruled on Tuesday.
Judge Sets Hearing Date for Harvard’s Lawsuit Against Trump Admin
A federal judge agreed to expedite Harvard’s lawsuit against the Trump administration over its attempt to freeze more than $2.2 billion in federal funding to the University on Monday.
Judge Denies Harvard’s Motion to Dismiss Former Hockey Coach’s Gender Discrimination Lawsuit
Stone — who led Harvard’s women’s ice hockey team — resigned from her position in June 2023 after a University investigation into allegations that she had fostered a toxic environment on the team. She sued the University, alleging she was treated more harshly than male coaches.
Harvard Asks Judge to Expedite Lawsuit Against Trump Admin, Declines to Request Emergency Injunction
Harvard asked a federal judge to fast-track its legal challenge against the Trump administration’s decision to freeze more than $2 billion in grants and contracts, calling for quick action to mitigate harm to research and academic projects.
Judge Allison Burroughs Will Oversee Harvard’s Federal Funding Lawsuit. It’s Not Her First Harvard Assignment.
Massachusetts District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs, a Barack Obama appointee who ruled to uphold Harvard’s race-conscious admissions policies in 2019, will oversee the lawsuit Harvard brought on Monday against the Trump administration’s federal funding freeze.
Experts Say Harvard Has a Strong Case in Legal Battle Against Trump
After Harvard sued the Trump administration Monday afternoon, legal experts and scholars say Harvard’s legal team has a strong case that may secure the University quick relief from the administration’s order to freeze federal funding.
Harvard AAUP Changes Litigation Strategy in Response to Funding Cuts
After a $2.2 billion cut was announced on Monday, Harvard’s chapter of the AAUP withdrew its request for a judge to block funding freezes from the Trump administration, instead asking for a preliminary injunction.
Trump’s Funding Cut Sets the Stage for a Historic Legal Battle With Harvard
By revoking more than $2 billion in federal grants and contracts, the Trump administration has forced Harvard President Alan M. Garber ’76 to make a final choice — sue or stand down.
In Court Filing, Trump Administration Blasts AAUP Lawsuit Against Immigration Orders
Lawyers for the federal government asked a judge to reject a lawsuit from the Harvard chapter of the American Association of University Professors, arguing that the group misapplied the First Amendment in their condemnation of Trump’s crackdown on pro-Palestine speech.
Harvard AAUP Sues Trump Administration To Stop $9 Billion Review of Harvard’s Federal Funding
The Harvard chapter of the American Association of University Professors sued the Trump administration on Friday to end its ongoing review of the University’s federal funding, alleging the review was coercive and unlawfully undermined academic freedom.
Judge Denies Students’ Request To Join Kestenbaum in Antisemitism Suit
Efforts by two Harvard graduate students to join Alexander “Shabbos” Kestenbaum’s ongoing Title VI lawsuit against Harvard were cut short on Friday after U.S. District Court Judge Richard G. Stearns ruled to deny an amended complaint that added them as plaintiffs.
Kestenbaum Required to Hand Over Documents in Ongoing Lawsuit, Judge Rules
Harvard Divinity School graduate Alexander “Shabbos” Kestenbaum will have to hand over a series of documents related to his ongoing Title VI lawsuit against Harvard, after a judge approved the University’s request to compel the production of documents on Wednesday.
HSPH Professor Joins Lawsuit Challenging NIH Cuts to Research Grants
Harvard School of Public Health professor Brittany M. Charlton joined a lawsuit against the National Institutes of Health on Wednesday, alleging that the Trump administration’s cuts to equity-related research grants violated the Fifth Amendment and required Congressional approval.
Trump Takes Aim at Harvard’s Go-To Law Firm WilmerHale
A federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s Thursday order that sought to block WilmerHale — a firm that has represented Harvard in several high-profile lawsuits — from government business.
GOP Rep. Targets Federal Judge, Harvard Overseer Theodore Chuang ’91 for Impeachment
Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) filed impeachment articles against United States District Court Judge Theodore D. Chuang ’91 — a member of Harvard’s Board of Overseers, the University second-highest governing body — on Monday.
Kestenbaum Files Opposition to Harvard’s Request for Documents
Harvard Divinity School graduate Alexander “Shabbos” Kestenbaum, the lead plaintiff in an ongoing Title VI lawsuit against Harvard, filed opposition to Harvard’s motion to compel him to produce documents relating to the case, claiming Harvard’s argument is “baseless.”
How City Councilor Paul Toner Fought To Keep Hearings in Brothel Case Private
Cambridge City Councilor Paul F. Toner — who faces charges for allegedly patronizing a Cambridge brothel network — spent nearly a year trying to prevent his name from surfacing in the case prior to his arraignment.
As Antisemitism Lawsuit Drags On, Harvard Demands Kestenbaum’s Messages With Politicians
Harvard filed a motion on Friday to compel Harvard Divinity School graduate Alexander “Shabbos” Kestenbaum, the lead plaintiff in an ongoing Title VI lawsuit, to turn over communications with politicians and messages from the “Harvard Pro-Israel WhatsApp group.”
Harvard AAUP Sues Trump Administration Over Attempts To Deport Pro-Palestine Students, Faculty
The Harvard chapter of the American Association of University Professors filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on Tuesday morning for allegedly violating its members’ First Amendment rights by arresting and attempting to deport noncitizens for expressing pro-Palestine views.
Harvard Requested Kestenbaum Delete X Post Denouncing DEI Officer
Harvard requested Harvard Divinity School graduate Alexander “Shabbos” Kestenbaum remove a critical social media post about Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Sherri A. Charleston.
2 Months After Settlement, Kestenbaum Seeks To File Amended Antisemitism Complaint Against Harvard
Alexander “Shabbos” Kestenbaum and two unnamed plaintiffs asked on Thursday to file an amended complaint against Harvard in federal court, seeking to continue their lawsuit alleging Harvard failed to fight antisemitism.
Court Recommends Letting Ex-Hockey Coach Katey Stone’s Discrimination Lawsuit Move Forward
A federal magistrate judge recommended on Wednesday that the district judge assigned to former Harvard hockey coach Katey Stone’s lawsuit against the University allow most of Stone’s claims to proceed, despite Harvard’s motion to dismiss them.