Miltenberg: “Providence Composer Sues Berklee Over Firing Amid Sexual Misconduct Allegations,” Providence Journal

A Providence conductor and composer is suing Berklee College of Music and its board of trustees over his firing in April after a female student raised allegations that he took her out for drinks and made inappropriate sexual advances. In a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, Peyman Farzinpour accuses Berklee of exhibiting gender bias against him and undertaking a biased and flawed disciplinary process that deprived him of his rights to a fair proceeding. Farzinpour, who performs in the group ENSEMBLE / PARALLAX, alleges breach of contract, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence and other claims. He is seeking unspecified damages and for a declaration that the school violated Title IX policies barring discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive federal money. “This is a case of scorned, unrequited love or attraction,” Farzinpour’s lawyer, Andrew T. Miltenberg, said. “He had a fantastic career ahead of him. He lost it in a second.”

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