Wrongfully Accused Former Student Awarded $5.3 Million By Jury

A wrongfully accused former Clemson University student has been awarded $5.3 million by a jury as a result of his lawsuit against his accuser and others on defamation and civil conspiracy claims. SAVE, a due-process advocacy group, said the decision is believed to represent the largest amount ever awarded to a student falsely accused of sexual misconduct.

The defamation and civil conspiracy claims arose from a consensual sexual encounter between two Clemson University students, plaintiff Andrew Pampu and defendant Erin Wingo in October 2015, according to Pampu’s attorney, Kimberly Lau.

Lau previously helped Pampu settle claims against the University for violations of Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972 and the Fourteenth Amendment of the Due Process Clause.