The University of Tennessee-Knoxville reached a settlement in a sexual assault lawsuit involving student-athletes filed by eight women against the school’s football program, Nate Rau and Anita Wadhwani of the Tennessean reported on Tuesday. The university will pay the plaintiffs $2.48 million, which also includes attorney fees.
UT officials also agreed to have an independent commission review all responses to sexual assaults at all the schools within its system. UT did not, however, admit to “guilt, negligence or unlawful” acts under the terms of the settlement.
The plaintiffs agreed to withdraw two complaints regarding how the school handled sexual assaults filed with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights in 2015, but it has not been determined whether that will cease an ongoing probe of potential violations of Title IX rules that regulate how schools must respond to sexual assaults.
Both the plaintiffs and their parents agreed not to comment on their previous allegations or the settlement reached on Tuesday, which is the third reached under athletic director Dave Hart in two years.
Jason covers SEC football for Saturday Down South.
