Gay Student Must Face Defamation Suit by Classmate’s Estate

A gay University of Texas at Arlington student has to face a defamation suit by the estate of a classmate who committed suicide after the two allegedly had a homophobic exchange in class, the Fifth Circuit said.

After the exchange, Nicholas Watson reported Thomas Klocke to the school. An investigator determined that Klocke was the aggressor and he was disciplined. Klocke committed suicide soon thereafter and his estate sued the university and Watson.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit Dec. 10 ruled that the sex discrimination claim against the university was properly dismissed, because the investigation was ...