More Details Emerge In The Rape Allegation Against Law Professor

We brought you word earlier in the week about allegations of sexual assault and stalking made against University of Minnesota Law School professor Francesco Parisi. Since that time he has been charged with stalking and first-degree criminal sexual conduct, and bail was set at $350,000.

In the charging documents, the woman that is accusing Professor Parisi of rape says she’s known him since 2014 when the pair dated for a few months. They even agreed to purchase a condo together, but then, in January 2015, they broke up. As a result, Parisi filed a lawsuit to cancel the real estate deal. At the same time — on the same day that Parisi sought to end their real estate deal — the alleged victim filed for an order of protection, citing a heated argument and that Parisi physically prevented her from leaving his apartment. She was granted the order, but it was lifted after a settlement.

Then in August 2016, the alleged victim filed for a second protective order. In that order she provided more details about the January 2015 incident, and alleged it resulted in sexual assault. She says that during that January argument she suffered from a stress-induced seizure, and then she was sexually assaulted, as reported by the Minnesota Star Tribune:

When she regained consciousness, he was sexually assaulting her, the charges say. When she was able to leave, she went to the hospital with three broken teeth and needed surgery for other injuries, according to the charges.

For this second protective order the woman also alleged Parisi sent people to her home to intimidate her and sent late night threatening text messages. A few weeks prior to getting the second protective order, Parisi was successful in the real estate litigation. According to Parisi’s attorney in that matter, John Braun, no allegations of sexual assault were made during the course of the real estate litigation.

Then the most recent incident between the pair:

On Jan. 17, she was out for a run when she saw his vehicle at Washington and 3rd Avenues N., the charges say. Suddenly, he drove onto the sidewalk and came within 2 feet of hitting her. She escaped into a building and an elevator, where she suffered another stress-induced seizure. A bystander called 911, and the woman was hospitalized for three days, the complaint says.

The Star Tribune is also reporting the woman has filed other orders of protection against other individuals in unrelated incidents.

Parisi, through his attorney, Barry Edwards, denied all of the allegations and has released this statement:

The “victim” has made allegations with zero evidence, other than her word, based on facts that have already been disproven in court in her various civil actions to try to discredit Professor Parisi. The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office has failed to do their due diligence in charging these allegations.

Obviously, the case against Parisi is in its infancy, and it is impossible to ascertain, from afar, the veracity of the claims. But complicated relationships, like this one, do not preclude the possibility of sexual assault. This is definitely a story we’ll be following.

U Law School prof charged with sex assault, stalking [Minnesota Star Tribune]
U law professor, alleged rape victim have extensive legal history [Minnesota Star Tribune]

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Kathryn Rubino is an editor at Above the Law. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).