College athletics often conjures images of camaraderie, hard work, and fair competition. But for one former Loyola Marymount University (LMU) golf team member, identified only as John Doe, that ideal shattered into a painful reality of alleged bullying and abuse. A civil lawsuit, filed on February 17, 2022, in Los Angeles, has brought chilling accusations against fellow student MICHAEL MOZILO and LMU itself, forcing a difficult conversation about privilege, institutional accountability, and the dark corners where student welfare can be compromised.
This personal injury claim against college student is currently proceeding in the Inglewood Courthouse, with Judges Jill Feeney, Ronald F. Frank, and Deirdre Hill overseeing the matter. The John Doe lawsuit LMU Mozilo remains an open case, drawing attention to a deeply personal and sensitive ordeal. For a deeper dive into the Michael Mozilo lawsuit details, official records are accessible.
The Allegations: A Nightmare Unfolds on the Golf Team
At the core of this legal battle are harrowing claims against MICHAEL MOZILO, a teammate who allegedly subjected John Doe to severe harassment. The complaint paints a stark picture of an October 2018 team trip that turned terrifying. While John Doe was taking a bath, MICHAEL MOZILO allegedly entered his hotel room, activated his phone camera, and barged into the bathroom, filming John Doe while he was nude, entirely without permission or consent. John Doe immediately pleaded for MICHAEL MOZILO to stop, but instead, he was reportedly met with refusal and taunts.
The alleged torment didn’t end there. The very next day, during a van ride to the airport with golf coach Jason D’Amore (who was acting as an LMU representative), MICHAEL MOZILO allegedly played the humiliating video for other teammates. John Doe faced further taunts and degradation, seemingly in full view and earshot of his coach. The complaint further claims that MICHAEL MOZILO then threatened to post this private video on Instagram. This deeply disturbing incident powerfully illustrates the severe student athlete bullying consequences.
Privilege and Complicity: Questions for LMU
Beyond the direct actions attributed to MICHAEL MOZILO, the lawsuit casts a critical eye on Loyola Marymount University’s alleged role. John Doe’s complaint outlines a troubling dynamic that suggests the Loyola Marymount University bullying allegations are rooted in systemic issues:
- A Tale of Two Backgrounds: John Doe, a scholarship athlete, highlights that he came from a different socioeconomic background than the predominantly upper-class members of the team.
- Donations Over Merit? The lawsuit controversially claims that MICHAEL MOZILO‘s presence on the golf team wasn’t due to his golfing prowess, but allegedly because of a “significant donation made to LMU by Mozilo‘s father.” This alleged prioritization of financial contributions, the complaint suggests, led to LMU “privileging Mozilo over other students and members of the golf team, including Plaintiff.” It raises serious questions about the impact of donations on university favoritism.
- A Failure to Protect? Perhaps most damning, John Doe alleges that MICHAEL MOZILO believed the plaintiff “would not receive protection from LMU and LMU’s agents and employees in the face of Mozilo‘s privilege and LMU’s over-abiding concern for donations.” This highlights a profound concern about when a university fails to protect students when faced with influential donors.
These allegations paint a concerning picture of how entrenched privilege and institutional priorities could overshadow student well-being and warp campus culture.
The “John Doe” Identity: Protecting the Vulnerable
The decision for the plaintiff to proceed under the fictitious name “John Doe” is not a mere formality; it’s a testament to the deeply personal and potentially devastating nature of the alleged acts. The complaint explicitly states this anonymity is necessary due to “matters of a highly sensitive and personal nature and there is a danger of mental harm to Plaintiff by public disclosure of his true identity in this matter.” This underscores the profound emotional and psychological toll such alleged harassment and privacy violation LMU golf team incidents can inflict.
Looking Ahead: The Pursuit of Justice and Accountability
As an open case, the legal process involving MICHAEL MOZILO and Loyola Marymount University is actively ongoing. The courts will now grapple with the serious claims of personal injury, emotional distress, and allegations of institutional negligence. This college athlete harassment lawsuit LMU has the potential to set a significant precedent for accountability for bullying in college sports, particularly in instances where privilege and donations come into question.
