Dillon PLLC Wins Unanimous Appeal Against Princeton University

On July 21st, 2026, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit unanimously reversed the trial court’s decision to dismiss Dillon PLLC’s latest lawsuit against Princeton, Doe v. Princeton University, No. 3:24-cv-07125 (D.N.J.). The firm’s client, John Doe, will be allowed to proceed to discovery on his claims that the disciplinary process Princeton put him through—which resulted in a two-year suspension—violated both Title IX and its own conduct code. 

In its opinion, the Court stated, “There is a wide range of permissible procedural safeguards that universities can implement to accommodate both the vital protection of victims’ rights and the essential fairness owed to respondents. In their worthy quest to erase the scourge of assault, particularly sexual assault, from their campuses, many universities have struggled to find the proper balance between these countervailing interests. Princeton University is among them.”

This is the second lawsuit that the firm has filed against Princeton; the first was settled earlier in 2026 prior to trial, following the court’s denial of both Princeton’s motion to dismiss and its motion for summary judgment.

As of this writing, in the 12 years that they have been practicing together, Dillon PLLC partners Justin Dillon and Chris Muha have never lost a lawsuit against a college.