University of Minnesota associate dean's behavior questioned in student's rape case

A University of Minnesota official was engaged in questionable ethical behavior when he allegedly aided the legal defense of a Chinese billionaire being sued for rape by a U student, according to claims made by the woman's attorneys in court documents.

Attorneys for the student, Jingyao Liu, who is now 25, are suing Richard Liu (no relation) and his company, JD.com, for the alleged rape in 2018. A hearing on the case was held last month in Hennepin County District Court, with a trial set for Oct. 3. The Hennepin County Attorney's Office earlier had decided not to prosecute.

Court documents released in May and June show that Haitao "Tony" Cui, a deputy associate dean and marketing professor at the Carlson School of Management, helped Liu secure a Minneapolis attorney, Jill Brisbois. Cui allegedly sat with Brisbois and listened as she phoned the student - who had no attorney at the time - in a call that her lawyers say was intended to coax her to seek a financial payoff, which would discredit her allegations.

https://www.startribune.com/u-of-m-associate-deans-behavior-questioned-after-student-says-she-was-raped/600188968/