Judge dismisses Jewish students’ antisemitism case against University of Pennsylvania

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Jewish students accusing the University of Pennsylvania of fostering a hostile environment following Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. The students claimed the university tolerated and enabled antisemitic incidents on campus.

Chief Judge Mitchell Goldberg of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania found that the 111-page amended complaint was too broad and failed to provide sufficient legal grounds. While acknowledging the students’ concerns, he ruled that the case lacked the necessary facts to support claims under federal civil rights law, state consumer protection law, or breach of contract.

“Plaintiffs have failed to plead any facts showing either intentional discrimination or deliberate indifference on the part of Penn,” Goldberg wrote, noting that much of the complaint focused on past grievances and global events unrelated to the university’s conduct.

"Indeed, I could find no allegations that Penn or its administration has itself taken any actions or positions which, even when read in the most favorable light, could be interpreted as antisemitic with the intention of causing harm to the Plaintiffs," he also said. "At worst, Plaintiffs accuse Penn of tolerating and permitting the expression of viewpoints which differ from their own."