Woman sues UK after students’ rape charges dismissed, alleges Title IX violations
A woman who claims she was raped and assaulted in a University of Kentucky dorm last year is suing, alleging the university was negligent in preventing the attack.
The lawsuit was filed Friday, days after criminal charges in the case were dismissed by a Fayette County court.
In the suit, she and her attorney claim the university violated Title IX — a federal civil rights law prohibiting sex-based discrimination — and was negligent based on foreseeable conduct and supervision. Without proper action, UK failed to prevent the alleged February 2025 rape, the suit claims.
Universities are required to comply with Title IX to receive federal funds, and part of the law requires institutions to address sexual harassment, sexual assault and violence.
Jay Blanton, the spokesperson for UK, said Tuesday the university was not aware of the complaint and declined comment.
A Fayette County court dismissed charges against two men accused last week after a grand jury declined to indict them.
Angus Thompson, 19, and Addison Adkins, 19, were originally were charged with first-degree rape after they were accused of sexually assaulting the woman inside Ball Hall Feb. 18, 2025. Adkins was also charged with second-degree strangulation.
Steve Romines, an attorney for Thompson, said he did not have comment on the lawsuit filed Friday against UK. Mike Rowland, Adkins’ attorney, was not immediately available for comment. Both Thompson and Adkins are no longer students at the university.
The woman, who has since withdrawn from UK, said she was drinking with the two men Feb. 17, 2025, in the campus dorm when she was raped. She reported the incident to campus police four days after it allegedly took place and visited the hospital.
The two men, who were 18 at the time, turned themselves in to police March 2, 2025, five days after the charges were filed.
The latest lawsuit states UK was aware of the potential for sexual assault and rape to take place in dorms, but failed to prevent it by implementing further safety measures, and also created a campus atmosphere where such assaults are more prevalent.
“I think generally, when the university assumes a responsibility and advertises that it is a safe environment for young, vulnerable students, it needs to make sure that is the case,” said Andre Regard, Doe’s attorney.
Based on crime data reported by university police, rape and sexual assault occur on the campus at a higher rate than the general population, the lawsuit states.
“Despite the presence of Title IX policies and procedures regarding campus rapes and sexual assaults, incidents of rape and sexual assault have not diminished since the execution of these policies and procedures, which has helped develop a culture of permissive sexual abuse and harassment in UK residential dormitories,” the lawsuit reads.
There were five campus crime bulletins issued during the fall 2025 semester related to sexual assault, according to UK’s crime data.
This story was originally published February 17, 2026 at 3:56 PM.
