Only the initials W.P identify the student, who filed suit in 2014 for discrimination over the university's handling of his suicide attempt.
PRINCETON -- A federal judge has ruled that a Princeton University student who sued the school for discrimination over the handling of his suicide attempt can remain anonymous during the discovery phase of the lawsuit.
Only the initials W.P identify the student, who filed suit in 2014.
The student claims school officials barred him from his dorm room and prohibited him from setting foot on campus after he "impulsively ingested" 20 anti-depressants while a freshman in 2012.
The students had asked that he be able to proceed with the discrimination lawsuit under a pseudonym, citing the "social stigma and distress relating to his mental health."
Last summer, a magistrate judge ruled the student's name should be disclosed, concluding it would be "fundamentally unfair" to allow the student to anonymously accuse university officials of serious wrongdoing while forcing them to defend themselves publicly.
"While there is a public interest in ensuring that cases like Plaintiff's are adjudicated and the rights of mental illness sufferers are represented fairly and without the risk of stigmatization, it must be balanced against the presumption of openness in judicial proceedings," Magistrate Judge Tonianne Bongiovanni wrote last year.
W.P.'s lawyers appealed and on Friday Judge Peter Sheridan, in U.S. District Court in Trenton, wrote that he interpreted the case law differently than the magistrate judge.
Sheridan signed a temporary order allowing W.P. to proceed anonymously during discovery and the judge said he reserves the right to decide if the anonymity will impact a possible trial.
Sheridan wrote that he was concerned about the W.P.'s medical and personal information being disclosed through legal briefs, which has already occurred.
"There is no way to undo such a publication," Sheridan's order states.
In order to prevent further harm, and prevent future release of sensitive information, "the only reasonable safeguards are to allow plaintiff's identity to remain anonymous."
The order states that anyone contacted by lawyer's investigating the matter sign a confidential agreement, but that each side proceed "zealously" and that the order itself not impact the legal process.
The order says Princeton lawyers sought a condition of the order that W.P. not make disparaging comments outside of court proceedings, but Sheridan found it to be an unreasonable First Amendment restraint.
Princeton has the ability to seek modification of the order should the restrictions prevent reasonable responses, the judge wrote.
In the original compliant, W.P.'s suit says he was allowed to return to school one year after the suicide try, but the school's actions will forever cause him to have to explain the one-year gap in his education, and he was a year behind his friends in classes.
"He will always be afraid that seeking the help of mental health professionals in a time of distress may lead to disaster," his lawsuit states.
A Princeton University spokeswoman said Monday the university does not comment on ongoing litigation.
Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.
