A federal court has dismissed a lawsuit filed by William Skewes-Cox against Georgetown University Law Center. The court ruled that Skewes-Cox's claims were barred by the statute of limitations, which had expired. This decision affects Skewes-Cox, a former law student who alleged that the school discriminated against him regarding a grade dispute linked to a disability accommodation.

The case, titled Skewes-Cox v. Georgetown University Law Center, was filed in the District Court for the District of Columbia under Civil Action No. 2025-2444. The ruling came on September 23, 2026, from Judge Carl J. Nichols, who found that Skewes-Cox waited too long to bring his claims against the university.

Background

William Skewes-Cox was a law student at Georgetown University, nearing graduation in early 2021. He underwent serious surgery in March 2021, which led to multiple hospitalizations and hindered his academic capabilities. Following advice from the Dean of Students, he requested extensions from his professors for assignment deadlines. While one professor granted him an extension for a paper, Skewes-Cox alleged that he did not receive timely feedback from his professors.

Skewes-Cox submitted a draft of his paper well before the semester ended but claimed he only received feedback shortly before the final paper was due, during a period when Georgetown's policy prohibited student-faculty contact. After receiving a disappointing grade, he raised concerns and requested a change to his grade, which was ultimately denied by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

Following the denial, Skewes-Cox filed a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education, which was dismissed. He then filed a lawsuit against Georgetown in March 2022, but this was dismissed without prejudice for failure to serve the university properly. After appealing this decision, he filed a second lawsuit in July 2025, which was the subject of the recent ruling.

The Ruling

The court ruled in favor of Georgetown University Law Center, stating that Skewes-Cox's claims were time-barred. Judge Nichols noted, "Skewes-Cox’s claim falls outside the limitations period... He did not file this action until July 18, 2025." The judge explained that the Rehabilitation Act, under which Skewes-Cox filed his claim, does not specify a limitations period, so the court borrowed the three-year period for personal injury actions from local law.

Skewes-Cox's claim was determined to have accrued on August 5, 2021, when his grade petition was denied. The court found that even considering the time his administrative complaint was pending, he filed his lawsuit more than five months after the statute of limitations had expired. The judge stated, "Even crediting the entire period his administrative complaint was pending... he still filed the complaint more than five and a half months late."

Impact

This ruling has significant implications for Skewes-Cox and others in similar situations. It underscores the importance of adhering to statutes of limitations when filing claims. The court's decision reinforces that even if a plaintiff feels they have a valid claim, failure to file within the required time frame can lead to dismissal regardless of the merits of the case.

Furthermore, this case highlights the challenges faced by individuals seeking to assert their rights under disability laws, particularly in academic settings. The ruling may deter others from pursuing similar claims if they are not aware of the strict timelines involved in legal proceedings.

What's Next

Skewes-Cox's case is now closed, as the court dismissed his claims with prejudice, meaning he cannot refile them. There are no indications that he plans to appeal this decision, and there are currently no related cases pending in the court system.