Doe v. Gonzaga University

John Doe, a former student in Gonzaga University’s department of education, sued Gonzaga and three of its staff members for spreading allegations that Doe had sexually assaulted another student, and for refusing to submit a moral character affidavit supporting Doe’s application for teacher certification. The primary issues before us on appeal are whether any of the defendants can be liable for allegedly defamatory statements that Gonzaga employees made only to one another, and whether Gonzaga was entitled to judgment as a matter of law on Doe’s claims for negligence, breach of educational…