"We don't have many lawsuits for an entity as large as Harvard," says Vice President and General Counsel Anne Taylor. "We, as an institution, are good at what we do, so we don't [get sued much]."
Taylor says that in the 17 years she has worked for Harvard, she thinks only about five claims against Harvard have ever been tried before a jury.
"Good lawyers have failed if a complaint gets to a lawsuit," she says. "We try hard not to get sued."
She says easy solutions to avoid a lawsuit include sending a letter of apology, or helping people find appropriate resources to resolve their problems.
But when the University does get sued, it defends itself like a parent bird whose nest has been violated.
Tamara E. Awerbuch, an employee of the School of Public Health, is suing the University for sexual harassment. The is case scheduled to go to trial this month.
"Nothing to me is unexpected from Harvard," she says . "They are defending themselves extremely vigorously."
According to David C. Casey, a Boston lawyer with Bingham Dana who Harvard often hires to help with its defenses, this vigor in arguing its case does not prevent Harvard from attempting to settle lawsuits.
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