Case: Klusov v. Georgetown University
1:24-cv-02587 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia
Filed Date: Aug. 26, 2024
Case Ongoing
Clearinghouse coding complete
Case Summary
This case challenged Georgetown University (Georgetown) for allegedly unlawfully permitting, enabling, and failing to prevent hostile discrimination against Jewish and Russian students on campus, in violation of federal and state law. Other cases involving universities’ responses to speech and activity concerning Israel and Palestine, including matters involving antisemitism and/or anti-Palestinian expression, can be found here.
On August 26, 2024, the plaintiff, a Jewish and Russian alumnus of Georgetown, filed this pro se lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against Georgetown. In the complaint (and in subsequent amended filings), the plaintiff asserted claims under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the D.C. Human Rights Act (§ 2-1401.01 et seq.), 42 U.S.C. § 1985(3) for conspiring to interfere with civil rights, and various related state law claims. The plaintiff sought damages, statutory penalties, and an award of attorneys’ fees. This case was assigned to Judge Royce C. Lamberth.
On September 12, 2024, the plaintiff filed a “Notice of Exhibits,” which the court subsequently characterized as a first amended complaint (FAC), although it was not labeled as such. The filing, among other things, included 42 U.S.C. § 1986 (which required an underlying violation of 42 U.S.C. § 1985) as a distinct, labeled count rather than as merely a brief reference in the original filing. Georgetown filed a motion to dismiss on December 12, 2024.
On the same day, the plaintiff filed an amended complaint. Although the plaintiff labeled it as a “First Amended Complaint,” the court later treated it as a second amended complaint (SAC), since the September filing had already been construed as the FAC. The revised complaint, among other things, replaced earlier general references to state law theories with a separately identified count specifying those claims. On December 20, 2024, Georgetown filed a motion to dismiss. In its motion, Georgetown contended that the plaintiff failed to state a claim and argued that the plaintiff improperly filed the SAC without obtaining the court’s permission.
The court ruled in Georgetown’s favor, granting its motion to dismiss the plaintiff’s first and second amended complaints without further leave to amend on August 15, 2025. The court first characterized the “Notice of Exhibits” as the FAC (because it repeated much of the information from the original complaint, but provided further explanation) and dismissed it under Rule 8(a) because of its excessive length and “untidy,” “disjointed,” and “information-laden” nature. The court also found that granting leave to amend the SAC would be futile, as it likewise violated Rule 8(a), failed to state a claim, and because the defects could not be cured. 2025 WL 2377967.
On September 15, 2025, the plaintiff filed a notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia regarding the August 15 dismissal. The plaintiff later filed two amended notices of appeal.
This case is ongoing.
Summary Authors
Dahlia Gottlieb (3/16/2026)
People
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69148718/parties/klusov-v-georgetown-university/
Lamberth, Royce C. (District of Columbia)
KLUSOV, ALEKSEI (District of Columbia)
Attorney, Henry Adam
Platt, Henry Adam (District of Columbia)
Documents in the Clearinghouse
Docket
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69148718/klusov-v-georgetown-university/
Last updated March 24, 2026, 11:13 p.m.
Case Details
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Title VI Anti-Palestinian/Antisemitism cases
Key Dates
Filing Date: Aug. 26, 2024
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
The plaintiff is a Jewish and Russian alumnus of Georgetown.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: Yes
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Private Entity/Person
Georgetown University
Defendant Type(s):
Facility Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Title VI, Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000d et seq.
Other Dockets:
District of District of Columbia 1:24-cv-02587
U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit 25-07137
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Relief Sought:
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Issues
General/Misc.:
Discrimination Basis:
National origin discrimination
Affected National Origin/Ethnicity(s):
Affected Religion(s):
Case Summary of Klusov v. Georgetown University, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, http://www.dev.clearinghouse.net/case/47308/ (last updated 3/16/2026).