Franklin v. Gwinnett County Public Schools
503 U.S. 60 (1992)
by
John Lowenthal

Christine Franklin was a student who attended Gwinnett High School, which is part of the Gwinnett County Public School District in the State of Georgia.  During the beginning of the 1986 school year, in September, she started to develop a friendship with her economics teacher, Coach Andrew Hill.  This friendship gave Franklin special privileges, for example, being able to get excuses from Hill when she wanted to attend classes late.  During this time, according to Franklin, Hill initiated discussions of a sexual nature with Franklin.  At one point during this time, Hill and Franklin had an argument in the parking lot that resulted in Hill grabbing Franklin and kissing her.

Dr. Prescott, a band director at the school, was informed of these comments by Franklin’s boyfriend, but he did nothin.  In fact when Franklin was going to press charges against the school, he tried to convince Franklin from doing so saying it would reflect badly upon the school.  During all this time Hill claimed that he and Franklin had partaken in several episodes of sexual intercourse.  Franklin in 1988 decided to press charges against the school under Title IX saying she was discriminated against and treated unfairly because she was a woman and that she deserved damages because of this.

The district court dismissed the suit on the basis that title IX did not allow an award for damages for the person who is being treated wrongly.  The circuit court of appeals affirmed the opinion of the district court, however the Supreme Court decided that Title IX did allow an award of damages.  These awards had to be considered by the federal district court.  All in all the dismissal of the suit was reversed.