Former Northwestern football player files first lawsuit against University in hazing investigation

PRESS CONFERENCE: Wednesday, July 19

9 a.m.

The Law Offices of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C.

161 N. Clark Street, Suite 4700

Chicago, IL 60601

CHICAGO (July 18, 2023) – The Illinois Law Firm of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. and co-counsels The Stinar Law Firm and Pulaski Kherker PLLC, have filed a lawsuit on behalf of a former Northwestern University football player related to allegations of hazing and sexual abuse in the University’s football program. The lawsuit is the first case to be filed in the fallout stemming from an article from the student newspaper The Daily Northwestern detailing hazing-related activities inside the locker room.

The former football player, identified as “John Doe” in the complaint, filed the lawsuit through his attorneys in Cook County Circuit Court Tuesday morning. The lawsuit alleges the University, former head football coach Patrick Fitzgerald, and other defendants affiliated with the University were negligent in to failing to prevent hazing traditions, failing to intervene in hazing traditions, failing to protect students from acts that were assaultive, illegal, and often sexual in nature, among other allegations.

“John Doe,” who was a member of the Northwestern football team from 2018 until 2022, is among many others who have been subjected to sexualized hazing and physical abuse while they were part of the Northwestern Athletic Program.

Doe’s attorneys, Patrick A. Salvi II of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C., Parker Stinar of the Stinar Law Firm, and Adam Pulaski of Pulaski Kherker, released the following statement:

This morning, our firms filed the first lawsuit against Northwestern University, The Board of Trustees, and now fired football coach Patrick Fitzgerald for allegations of sexual harassment, sexual abuse, and racial discrimination. It is alleged that Fitzgerald knew, enabled, and encouraged this behavior and created a culture of abuse within the football program that carried over throughout the athletic department. We intend to hold the defendants, including Fitzgerald, accountable for the alleged actions and seek justice for victims of abuse, hazing, and discrimination. Institutions, athletic departments, and coaches are responsible for creating a safe and supportive environment for student-athletes. There is no place for the vile and disturbing hazing incidents that have taken place within the Northwestern football program. We applaud the courage of our client and the others who were brave enough to speak out about their experiences in the hopes of ending these types of incidents both at Northwestern and elsewhere. We encourage anyone who may have information related to this matter to contact our law firms.

The attorneys will discuss the lawsuit and next steps during a press conference on Wednesday, July 19, at 9 a.m. at the Law Offices of Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. (161 N. Clark St, Suite 4700, Chicago, IL 60601). Please email to confirm attendance.

If you are a football player or other member of the Northwestern community who experienced sexual or physical abuse at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, or have any information, please contact Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. (312-372-1227) to discuss your legal rights.

Media inquiries, please contact Marcie Mangan at (312) 372-1227 or mmangan@salvilaw.com

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About Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard, P.C.     

Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. was established by attorney Patrick Salvi Sr. in 1982. Today, the firm has 20 lawyers and is supported by more than 35 staff members in the firm’s Chicago and Waukegan, Illinois offices. The firm represents clients in medical malpractice, personal injury and wrongful death cases. Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. has recovered more than $2 billion in verdicts and settlements on behalf of injured clients, including more than 315 cases resulting in awards of $1 million or more. In 2022, a trial team led by Chicago Managing Partner, Patrick A. Salvi II, won the largest jury verdict for an individual plaintiff in the state of Illinois, $363 million in the first trial against medical device sterilization company, Sterigenics. The firm also holds the record for the largest compensatory jury verdict in Illinois, $148 million for a young woman paralyzed at O’Hare International Airport. The firm has been routinely listed as one of the top law firms in the state with the highest reported settlement totals in the Jury Verdict Reporter / Chicago Daily Law Bulletin’s Settlement Survey. Patrick A. Salvi II was named Best Lawyers’ 2022 “Lawyer of the Year” for Medical Malpractice in Chicago and has been honored by Super Lawyers one of the Top 100 Illinois Super Lawyers. From 2022-2023, he served as President of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association.

About The Stinar Law Firm  

Stinar Law is a nationally recognized law firm representing survivors of sexual abuse and holding sexual predators and enabling institutions accountable. Attorney Parker Stinar has represented hundreds of survivors of abuse against universities, religious organizations, and private entities. Mr. Stinar has participated in nearly a billion dollars settlements for survivors of sexual abuse, including those abused by disgraced Michigan State University physician Larry Nassar and the University of Michigan’s Robert Anderson. Mr. Stinar serves as of-counsel at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C.

About Pulaski Kherker PLLC

Pulaski Kherker PLLC represent plaintiffs from across the United States, individually, and in class and mass actions – primarily those who have suffered serious injury, death or other damages from dangerous and defective products, premises liability, consumer fraud and deceptive business practices, personal injury and toxic and environmental exposure to dangerous substances. Over the last thirty years, Pulaski Kherkher has brought tens of thousands of cases to resolution. Their goal is to treat each client as if he or she were their first and to work diligently to pursue his or her cause of action with all available means granted by the courts.