A U.S. Court of Appeals has vacated a lower court ruling, opening the door for a former Eastman School of Music student to proceed with a sexual harassment lawsuit against a professor.

Joseph Irrera, 35, was a graduate piano student at the U of R's Eastman School when he claims his teacher, Douglas Humpherys, made unwanted sexual advances.

In the suit, Irrera says he rejected the advances and later received failing grades from Humpherys as retaliation.

Irrera, who has twice performed at the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York City, says the failing grade has affected his ability to get teaching offers from other universities.

Court documents show Irrera had never received a failing grade for a recital in 27 years until the Humpherys grade.

The Court of Appeals ruled the lower District Court should not have dismissed Irrera's claims of retaliation and ordered further consideration of the lawsuit.

The University of Rochester and Dr. Humpherys both did not immediately return a request for comment.