MA (Harvard) Kestenbaum et al v. President and Fellows of Harvard College

United States District Court
District of Massachusetts (Boston)
CIVIL DOCKET FOR CASE #: 1:24-cv-10092-RGS

RECAP Docket (Free): https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/68152041/kestenbaum-v-president-and-fellows-of-harvard-college/


Kestenbaum et al v. President and Fellows of Harvard College
Assigned to: Judge Richard G. Stearns
related Case: 1:24-cv-11354-RGSCause: 28:1331 Federal Question: Other Civil Rights

Date Filed: 01/10/2024
Jury Demand: Plaintiff
Nature of Suit: 448 Civil Rights: Education
Jurisdiction: Federal Question
Plaintiff
Alexander Kestenbaumrepresented byTimothy H. Madden
Donnelly, Conroy & Gelhaar, LLP
Suite 1600
260 Franklin Street
Boston, MA 02110
617-720-2880
Fax: 617-720-3554
Email: thm@dcglaw.com
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED

Andrew Charles Bernstein
Kasowitz, Benson & Torres LLP
1633 Broadway
New York, NY 10019
212-506-1973
Email: abernstein@kasowitz.com
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED

Andrew L Schwartz
Kasowitz, Benson & Torres LLP
1633 Broadway
New York, NY 10019
212-506-1762
Email: aschwartz@kasowitz.com
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED

Daniel Benson
Kasowitz, Benson & Torres LLP
1633 Broadway
New York, NY 10019
212-506-1720
Email: dbenson@kasowitz.com
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED

Joshua E. Roberts
Kasowitz, Benson & Torres LLP
1633 Broadway
New York, NY 10019
212-506-1929
Email: jroberts@kasowitz.com
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED

Marc E. Kasowitz
Kasowitz, Benson, Torres & Friedman LLP
1633 Broadway
New York, NY 10019
212-506-1710
Email: mkasowitz@kasowitz.com
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED

Mark Ressler
Kasowitz, Benson & Torres LLP
1633 Broadway
New York, NY 10019
212-506-1752
Email: mressler@kasowitz.com
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Plaintiff
Students Against Antisemitism, Inc.represented byTimothy H. Madden
(See above for address)
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED

Andrew Charles Bernstein
(See above for address)
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED

Andrew L Schwartz
(See above for address)
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED

Daniel Benson
(See above for address)
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED

Joshua E. Roberts
(See above for address)
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED

Marc E. Kasowitz
(See above for address)
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED

Mark Ressler
(See above for address)
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED

V.
Defendant
President and Fellows of Harvard Collegerepresented byBruce M. Berman
Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP
2445 M Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20037-1420
202-663-6000
Email: Bruce.Berman@wilmerhale.com
LEAD ATTORNEY
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED

Felicia H. Ellsworth
Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP (Bos)
60 State Street
Boston, MA 02109
617-526-6000
Fax: 617-526-5000
Email: felicia.ellsworth@wilmerhale.com
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED

Gina Merill
King & Spalding LLP
1185 Avenue of the Americas
34th Floor
New York, NY 10036
(212) 790-5367
Email: gmerrill@kslaw.com
LEAD ATTORNEY
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED

Jeremy W. Brinster
Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP
2100 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20037
202-663-6085
Email: Jeremy.Brinster@wilmerhale.com
LEAD ATTORNEY
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED

Mark A. Kirsch
King & Spalding LLP
1185 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
212-790-5329
Fax: 212-556-2222
Email: mkirsch@kslaw.com
LEAD ATTORNEY
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED

Seth P. Waxman
Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP
2100 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20037
202-663-6800
Fax: 202-663-6363
Email: seth.waxman@wilmerhale.com
LEAD ATTORNEY
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED

Zachary Thomas Fardon
King & Spalding LLP
110 North Wacker Drive
Ste 3800
Chicago, IL 60606
312-764-6960
Fax: 312-995-6330
Email: zfardon@kslaw.com
LEAD ATTORNEY
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED

Zoe Michal Beiner
King & Spalding LLP
1700 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Suite 900
Washington, DC 20006
202-737-0500
Fax: 202-626-3737
Email: zbeiner@kslaw.com
LEAD ATTORNEY
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED

Gina Merrill
King & Spalding LLP
1185 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
212-790-5367
Fax: 212-556-2222
Email: gmerrill@kslaw.com
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED

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Date Filed#Docket Text
01/10/20241 COMPLAINT against President and Fellows of Harvard College Filing fee: $ 405, receipt number AMADC-10214255 (Fee Status: Filing Fee paid), filed by Alexander Kestenbaum, Students Against Antisemitism, Inc.. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Action Cover Sheet, # 2 Category Form)(Madden, Timothy) (Entered: 01/10/2024)
01/10/20242 CORPORATE DISCLOSURE STATEMENT by Students Against Antisemitism, Inc.. (Madden, Timothy) (Entered: 01/10/2024)
01/11/2024ELECTRONIC NOTICE of Case Assignment. Judge Indira Talwani assigned to case. If the trial Judge issues an Order of Reference of any matter in this case to a Magistrate Judge, the matter will be transmitted to Magistrate Judge Jennifer C. Boal. (Phillips, Sophie) (Entered: 01/11/2024)
01/11/20244 Summons Issued as to President and Fellows of Harvard College. Counsel receiving this notice electronically should download this summons, complete one for each defendant and serve it in accordance with Fed.R.Civ.P. 4 and LR 4.1. Summons will be mailed to plaintiff(s) not receiving notice electronically for completion of service. (Cook, Savannah) (Entered: 01/11/2024)
01/15/20245 MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Marc E. Kasowitz, Daniel R. Benson, Mark P. Ressler, Andrew L. Schwartz, Joshua E. Roberts, Andrew C. Bernstein Filing fee: $ 750, receipt number AMADC-10218908 by Alexander Kestenbaum, Students Against Antisemitism, Inc.. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Kasowitz Certification, # 2 Exhibit Benson Certification, # 3 Exhibit Ressler Certification, # 4 Exhibit Schwartz Certification, # 5 Exhibit Roberts Certification, # 6 Exhibit Bernstein Certification)(Madden, Timothy) (Entered: 01/15/2024)
01/16/2024Judge Indira Talwani: ELECTRONIC ORDER allowing 5 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice Added Marc E. Kasowitz, Daniel R. Benson, Mark P. Ressler, Andrew L. Schwartz, Joshua E. Roberts, Andrew C. Bernstein.Attorneys admitted Pro Hac Vice must have an individual PACER account, not a shared firm account, to electronically file in the District of Massachusetts. To register for a PACER account, go the Pacer website at https://pacer.uscourts.gov/register-account. You must put the docket number under ADDITIONAL FILER INFORMATION on your form when registering or it will be rejected.Pro Hac Vice Admission Request Instructions https://www.mad.uscourts.gov/caseinfo/nextgen-pro-hac-vice.htm.A Notice of Appearance must be entered on the docket by the newly admitted attorney.(Kelly, Danielle) (Entered: 01/16/2024)
01/17/20247 NOTICE of Appearance by Marc E. Kasowitz on behalf of Alexander Kestenbaum, Students Against Antisemitism, Inc. (Kasowitz, Marc) (Entered: 01/17/2024)
01/17/20248 NOTICE of Appearance by Daniel Benson on behalf of Alexander Kestenbaum, Students Against Antisemitism, Inc. (Benson, Daniel) (Entered: 01/17/2024)
01/17/20249 NOTICE of Appearance by Mark Ressler on behalf of Alexander Kestenbaum, Students Against Antisemitism, Inc. (Ressler, Mark) (Entered: 01/17/2024)
01/17/202410 NOTICE of Appearance by Joshua E. Roberts on behalf of Alexander Kestenbaum, Students Against Antisemitism, Inc. (Roberts, Joshua) (Entered: 01/17/2024)
01/17/202411 NOTICE of Appearance by Andrew Charles Bernstein on behalf of Alexander Kestenbaum, Students Against Antisemitism, Inc. (Bernstein, Andrew) (Entered: 01/17/2024)
01/18/202412 WAIVER OF SERVICE Returned Executed by Alexander Kestenbaum, Students Against Antisemitism, Inc.. President and Fellows of Harvard College waiver sent on 1/15/2024, answer due 3/15/2024. (Madden, Timothy) (Entered: 01/18/2024)
01/18/202413 NOTICE of Appearance by Andrew L Schwartz on behalf of Alexander Kestenbaum, Students Against Antisemitism, Inc. (Schwartz, Andrew) (Entered: 01/18/2024)
02/28/202414 Judge Indira Talwani: ORDER entered. ORDER OF RECUSAL.(MacDonald, Gail) (Entered: 02/28/2024)
02/28/202415 NOTICE of Reassignment. Judge Richard G. Stearns added. Judge Indira Talwani no longer assigned to case. (Kinsella, Jaylannie) (Entered: 02/28/2024)
03/13/202416 NOTICE of Appearance by Felicia H. Ellsworth on behalf of President and Fellows of Harvard College (Ellsworth, Felicia) (Entered: 03/13/2024)
03/13/202417 MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Bruce M. Berman Filing fee: $ 125, receipt number AMADC-10316022 by President and Fellows of Harvard College. (Attachments: # 1 Certification of Bruce M. Berman in Support)(Ellsworth, Felicia) (Entered: 03/13/2024)
03/13/202418 MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Seth P. Waxman Filing fee: $ 125, receipt number AMADC-10316052 by President and Fellows of Harvard College. (Attachments: # 1 Certification of Seth P. Waxman in Support)(Ellsworth, Felicia) (Entered: 03/13/2024)
03/13/202419 MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Jeremy W. Brinster Filing fee: $ 125, receipt number AMADC-10316058 by President and Fellows of Harvard College. (Attachments: # 1 Certification of Jeremy W. Brinster in Support)(Ellsworth, Felicia) (Entered: 03/13/2024)
03/14/202420 MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Mark A. Kirsch Filing fee: $ 125, receipt number AMADC-10317579 by President and Fellows of Harvard College. (Attachments: # 1 Certification of Mark A. Kirsch in Support)(Ellsworth, Felicia) (Entered: 03/14/2024)
03/14/202421 MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Gina Merrill Filing fee: $ 125, receipt number AMADC-10317596 by President and Fellows of Harvard College. (Attachments: # 1 Certification of Gina Merrill in Support)(Ellsworth, Felicia) (Entered: 03/14/2024)
03/14/202422 MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Zachary Fardon Filing fee: $ 125, receipt number AMADC-10317606 by President and Fellows of Harvard College. (Attachments: # 1 Certification of Zachary Fardon)(Ellsworth, Felicia) (Entered: 03/14/2024)
03/14/202423 MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Zoe M. Beiner Filing fee: $ 125, receipt number AMADC-10317621 by President and Fellows of Harvard College. (Attachments: # 1 Certification of Zoe M. Beiner in Support)(Ellsworth, Felicia) (Entered: 03/14/2024)
03/14/202424 Joint MOTION for Order Scheduling Order by Alexander Kestenbaum, Students Against Antisemitism, Inc..(Madden, Timothy) Modified on 3/15/2024 to terminate motion. (Pacho, Arnold). (Entered: 03/14/2024)
03/15/202425 Judge Richard G. Stearns: ELECTRONIC ORDER entered granting in part and denying in part 24 Motion for Order.

While the court is willing to set a schedule for the filing of an Amended Complaint and defendant’s response, not at the pace suggested by the parties. Plaintiffs must file their Amended Complaint no later than Friday, March 29, 2024. Defendant’s response is due by April 12, 2024. Any opposition to a motion to dismiss must be filed by April 26, 2024. The court will entertain the filing of a Reply on a showing that the Opposition raised issues that defendant was unable to anticipate.

(Zierk, Marsha) Modified on 3/15/2024. Notice regenerated to counsel. (Pacho, Arnold). (Entered: 03/15/2024)
03/15/202426 Judge Richard G. Stearns: ELECTRONIC ORDER entered granting 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , and 23 Motions for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice of Bruce M. Berman, Seth P. Waxman, Jeremy W. Brinster, Mark A. Kirsch, Gina Merrill, Zachary Fardon, and Zoe M. Beiner.Attorneys admitted Pro Hac Vice must have an individual PACER account, not a shared firm account, to electronically file in the District of Massachusetts. To register for a PACER account, go the Pacer website at https://pacer.uscourts.gov/register-account. You must put the docket number under ADDITIONAL FILER INFORMATION on your form when registering or it will be rejected.Pro Hac Vice Admission Request Instructions https://www.mad.uscourts.gov/caseinfo/nextgen-pro-hac-vice.htm.A Notice of Appearance must be entered on the docket by the newly admitted attorney.(Pacho, Arnold) (Entered: 03/15/2024)
03/20/202427 NOTICE of Appearance by Zoe Michal Beiner on behalf of President and Fellows of Harvard College (Beiner, Zoe) (Entered: 03/20/2024)
03/20/202428 NOTICE of Appearance by Mark A. Kirsch on behalf of President and Fellows of Harvard College (Kirsch, Mark) (Entered: 03/20/2024)
03/20/202429 NOTICE of Appearance by Gina Merrill on behalf of President and Fellows of Harvard College (Merrill, Gina) (Entered: 03/20/2024)
03/20/202430 NOTICE of Appearance by Zachary Thomas Fardon on behalf of President and Fellows of Harvard College (Fardon, Zachary) (Entered: 03/20/2024)
03/21/202431 CORPORATE DISCLOSURE STATEMENT by President and Fellows of Harvard College. (Ellsworth, Felicia) (Entered: 03/21/2024)
03/29/202432 AMENDED COMPLAINT against President and Fellows of Harvard College, filed by Alexander Kestenbaum, Students Against Antisemitism, Inc..(Kasowitz, Marc) (Entered: 03/29/2024)
04/03/202433 Assented to MOTION for Leave to File Excess Pages for Combined Motion to Dismiss and Motion to Strike by President and Fellows of Harvard College. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Ellsworth, Felicia) (Entered: 04/03/2024)
04/04/202434 Judge Richard G. Stearns: ELECTRONIC ORDER entered granting in part and denying in part 33 Motion for Leave to File Excess Pages. Harvard may file a combined memorandum of no more than thirty (30) pages. (RGS, law3) (Entered: 04/04/2024)
04/12/202435 MOTION to Dismiss and Motion to Strike by President and Fellows of Harvard College.(Ellsworth, Felicia) (Entered: 04/12/2024)
04/12/202436 MEMORANDUM in Support re 35 MOTION to Dismiss and Motion to Strike filed by President and Fellows of Harvard College. (Ellsworth, Felicia) (Entered: 04/12/2024)
04/12/202437 DECLARATION re 35 MOTION to Dismiss and Motion to Strike of Felicia Ellsworth in Support by President and Fellows of Harvard College. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1, # 2 Exhibit 2, # 3 Exhibit 3, # 4 Exhibit 4, # 5 Exhibit 5, # 6 Exhibit 6, # 7 Exhibit 7, # 8 Exhibit 8)(Ellsworth, Felicia) (Attachment 4 and attachment 6 replaced on 4/15/2024 – blank pages removed) (Cook, Savannah). (Entered: 04/12/2024)
04/12/202438 DECLARATION re 35 MOTION to Dismiss and Motion to Strike of Meredith Weenick in Support by President and Fellows of Harvard College. (Ellsworth, Felicia) (Entered: 04/12/2024)
04/12/202439 DECLARATION re 35 MOTION to Dismiss and Motion to Strike of Timothy Whelsky in Support by President and Fellows of Harvard College. (Ellsworth, Felicia) (Entered: 04/12/2024)
04/15/202440 Assented to MOTION for Leave to File Excess Pages / Modify Page Limit For Plaintiffs’ Opposition To Defendant’s Combined Motion To Dismiss And Motion To Strike by Alexander Kestenbaum, Students Against Antisemitism, Inc.. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Order)(Kasowitz, Marc) (Entered: 04/15/2024)
04/15/202441 Judge Richard G. Stearns: ELECTRONIC ORDER entered granting 40 Motion for Leave to File Excess Pages. Plaintiffs may file a memorandum of no more than 30 pages in support of their opposition to the pending motion to dismiss. (RGS, law3) (Entered: 04/15/2024)
04/26/202442 Assented to MOTION to Seal Document by Alexander Kestenbaum, Students Against Antisemitism, Inc.. (Attachments: # 1 Redacted Declaration, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Kasowitz, Marc) (Entered: 04/26/2024)
04/26/202443 MEMORANDUM in Opposition re 35 MOTION to Dismiss and Motion to Strike filed by Alexander Kestenbaum, Students Against Antisemitism, Inc.. (Kasowitz, Marc) (Entered: 04/26/2024)
04/26/202444 DECLARATION re 35 MOTION to Dismiss and Motion to Strike FILED UNDER SEAL by Alexander Kestenbaum, Students Against Antisemitism, Inc.. (Kasowitz, Marc) (Entered: 04/26/2024)
04/29/202445 MOTION for Leave to File a Reply Memorandum in Support of Combined Motion to Dismiss and Motion to Strike by President and Fellows of Harvard College.(Ellsworth, Felicia) (Entered: 04/29/2024)
04/29/202446 Judge Richard G. Stearns: ELECTRONIC ORDER entered granting 42 Motion to Seal Document. Attached to plaintiffs’ Opposition to Harvard’s Motion to Dismiss is a declaration from a Harvard Law School student, identified with the pseudonym “SAA Member # 1.” Plaintiffs move to redact SAA Member # 1’s name from the public version of his declaration to “safeguard SAA members’ associational privilege” and “protect SAA Member # 1’s privacy interests, including his interest in being free from harassment, discrimination, and retaliation.” Dkt. # 42 at 2. Because this request fits neatly into at least one of the paradigms identified by the First Circuit of “exceptional cases in which… anonymity ordinarily will be warranted,” the court will allow the motion. See Doe v. Mass. Inst. of Tech. (Doe v. MIT), 46 F.4th 61, 71 (1st Cir. 2022).

There is a “strong presumption against the use of pseudonyms in civil litigation.” Does 1-3 v. Mills, 39 F.4th 20, 25 (1st Cir. 2022). But, in “exceptional cases,” an individual may proceed pseudonymously. Doe v. MIT, 46 F.4th at 70, quoting Doe v. Megless, 654 F.3d 404, 408 (3d Cir. 2011). The First Circuit has identified four paradigm cases in which pseudonymity may be warranted: cases in which (1) the “would-be Doe reasonably fears that coming out of the shadows will cause him unusually severe harm”; (2) identifying the individual would “harm ‘innocent parties'”; (3) “anonymity is necessary to forestall a chilling effect on future litigants who may be similarly situated”; and (4) the individual’s identity is “bound up with a prior proceeding made confidential by law.” Id. at 71-72, quoting Sealed Plaintiff v. Sealed Defendant, 537 F.3d 185, 190 (2d Cir. 2008).

“[P]rivacy rights of… third parties are among those interests which, in appropriate cases, can limit the presumptive right of access to judicial records.” F.T.C. v. Standard Fin. Mgm’t Corp., 830 F.3d 404, 411 (1st Cir. 1987), quoting In re Knoxville News-Sentinel Co., 723 F.3d 470, 478 (6th Cir. 1983); see also Doe v. MIT, 46 F.4th at 71 (nonparties have “stronger case[s] for anonymity” than parties). And plaintiffs argue that if his identity is made public, SAA Member # 1 may face discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. Harvard does not contest the reasonableness of this fear. Thus, to protect the privacy interests of non-party SAA Member # 1, plaintiffs may redact his name from the public version of his declaration.

Plaintiffs’ motion is ALLOWED. Plaintiffs will file the redacted version of SAA Member # 1’s declaration on the public docket by close of business on April 30, 2024. (RGS, law4) (Entered: 04/29/2024)
04/29/202447 Judge Richard G. Stearns: ELECTRONIC ORDER entered granting 45 Motion for Leave to File Document. Harvard may file a 15-page reply brief by May 6, 2024. Counsel must include “Leave to file granted on April 29, 2024” in the caption of the document. (RGS, law4) (Entered: 04/29/2024)
04/29/202448 DECLARATION re 35 MOTION to Dismiss and Motion to Strike (REDACTED) by Alexander Kestenbaum, Students Against Antisemitism, Inc.. (Kasowitz, Marc) (Additional attachment(s) added on 4/29/2024: # 1 Unredacted Declaration – SEALED) (McManus, Caetlin). (Entered: 04/29/2024)
05/02/202449 ELECTRONIC NOTICE Setting Hearing on Motion 35 MOTION to Dismiss and Motion to Strike : Motion Hearing set for 5/30/2024 02:00 PM in Courtroom 21 (In person only) before Judge Richard G. Stearns. (Maynard, Timothy) (Entered: 05/02/2024)
05/06/202450 REPLY to Response to 35 MOTION to Dismiss and Motion to Strike filed by President and Fellows of Harvard College. (Ellsworth, Felicia) (Entered: 05/06/2024)
05/06/202451 DECLARATION re 50 Reply to Response to Motion of Felicia H. Ellsworth in Support by President and Fellows of Harvard College. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1, # 2 Exhibit 2, # 3 Exhibit 3, # 4 Exhibit 4, # 5 Exhibit 5, # 6 Exhibit 6)(Ellsworth, Felicia) (Entered: 05/06/2024)
05/09/202452 MOTION for Leave to File Amicus Brief filed by Joshua Lapin. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Amicus Brief, # 2 Text of Proposed Order, # 3 Text of Proposed Order)(McManus, Caetlin) (Entered: 05/09/2024)
05/09/202453 Brief in Support re 52 MOTION for Leave to File Amicus Brief. (McManus, Caetlin) (Entered: 05/09/2024)
05/22/202454 MOTION to Amend 32 Amended Complaint , MOTION to Continue Oral Argument ( Responses due by 6/5/2024) by Alexander Kestenbaum, Students Against Antisemitism, Inc.. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1: Proposed Second Amended Complaint, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Kasowitz, Marc) (Entered: 05/22/2024)
05/22/202455 RESPONSE to Motion re 54 MOTION to Amend 32 Amended Complaint MOTION to Continue Oral Argument filed by President and Fellows of Harvard College. (Ellsworth, Felicia) (Entered: 05/22/2024)
24cv10092-MAD 24cv10092_Amended-Complaint-MAD 24cv10092_Proposed-Second-Amended-Complaint-MAD