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Lederer v. Trustees of Columbia University

From October 2025 to December 2025
Columbia University (Private college or university)
New York, NY

Identity of Speakers

  • Jonathan Lederer
    Student
    Other

    Student at Columbia University who "present(s) (himself) as Jewish, both ethnically and religiously, in their interactions with the public"; twin brother to David Lederer; Plaintiff

  • David Lederer
    Student
    Other

    Student at Columbia University who "present(s) (himself) as Jewish, both ethnically and religiously, in their interactions with the public"; twin brother to Jonathan Lederer; Plaintiff

Resources

Additional Information

  • Incident Nature:
    Lawsuit
  • Incident Political Orientation:
    Not Clear
  • Incident Responses:
    Litigation
  • Incident Status:
    In litigation Federal District Court
    Dismissed
  • Did not involve Speech Codes

Summary

On October 21, 2025, twin brothers Jonathan and David Lederer filed a federal civil rights lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against the Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York. The complaint alleged that the university engaged in, condoned, and permitted severe and pervasive harassment, assault, and intimidation against them and other Jewish students because of their Jewish identity. The lawsuit cited violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the New York City Human Rights Law, and breach of contract based on Columbia’s own policies guaranteeing a safe and nondiscriminatory educational environment.

The complaint described repeated antisemitic incidents, including physical assaults, exclusion from campus buildings, and discriminatory disciplinary actions. It stated that Columbia failed to adequately respond to or investigate these incidents, creating a hostile environment for Jewish students. The plaintiffs sought monetary damages and injunctive relief requiring the university to uphold its obligations to protect students from discrimination and harassment.

The lawsuit referenced tensions following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel, alleging that antisemitic harassment and discrimination increased on campus and that the university treated Jewish students differently from other students when enforcing rules and responding to incidents. The plaintiffs stated that their attempts to report incidents were met with inaction, leaving them at risk of ongoing harassment.

On December 22, 2025, the Lederer brothers voluntarily dismissed the lawsuit with prejudice, ending the case and preventing refiling of the same claims.