A University of California, Davis student had a consensual encounter with a fellow student that ultimately cost him more than $12,000 in legal fees — thanks in large part to an Obama-era Title IX reform regulating schools’ handling of sexual misconduct disputes, Reason magazine reported on Tuesday.

The article withheld the students’ real names but says the pair did not consummate the encounter. Their brief encounter was consensual, according to their accounts.

“[The male student faced] two and a half months of living hell, facing possible suspension from the school,” said Brooke Goldstein (shown above right), founder and executive director of The Lawfare Project, Tuesday night on Fox News’ “The Ingraham Angle.”

“What was so scary about this case is that the woman who filed the complaint did not even allege any type of violation of the UC Davis student code. She admitted that she engaged in consensual sexual relations with the individual, but she later regretted it,” Goldstein added.

“There’s no need to be hysterical. It’s not like [false accusations] are an epidemic,” chimed in feminist activist and columnist Anushay Hossain (above left).

Hossain agreed in part with host Laura Ingraham’s contention that cases such as the one at UC Davis ultimately do harm to women who have been victims of sexual harassment and sexual assault. But she disagreed on the gravity and scope of the consequences for those who are falsely accused of sexual misconduct.

“This is a societal epidemic,” Goldstein countered.

Goldstein vigorously disagreed with Hossain’s contention that such situations are not prevalent enough to warrant serious concern or action.

She went on to explain that Obama-era guidelines issued from the Office of Civil Rights in 2011 forced schools to create “mini tribunals” to address sexual assault allegations or face withholding of federal funding.

These mini tribunals employ a preponderance of the evidence rules, meaning that it appears more likely than not that the alleged misconduct occurred. It is by that standard that students are found responsible or not for the allegations lodged against them.

Who do you think would win the Presidency?

By completing the poll, you agree to receive emails from LifeZette, occasional offers from our partners and that you've read and agree to our privacy policy and legal statement.

“There are over 300 lawsuits against American schools, both by men and women, alleging a violation of their due process rights,” said Goldstein.

“The victim is assumed to have been assaulted. The accused is assumed to … be already guilty,” she added.

“The victim is assumed to have been assaulted. The accused is assumed to … be already guilty,” she added.

The segment got very heated when host Laura Ingraham brought up the recent hearing of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford before the Senate Judiciary Committee, who accused now-Justice Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault when the two were teenagers in high school, back in the 1980s.

Anushay accused Ingraham of “victim-blaming,” later adding that Dr. Ford had told “her truth” — and then slamming Ingraham’s portrayal of the Ford-Kavanaugh situation as an example of “Rape Culture 101.”

“Don’t play that game,” said Ingraham, who wasn’t having it.

Watch this video of the encounter:

Michele Blood is a Flemington, New Jersey-based freelance writer and a regular contributor to LifeZette.