Judge denies motion to dismiss Tennessee sexual assault case

A judge denied the University of Tennessee lawyers’ request to dismiss the sweeping sexual assault case against the university on Tuesday.

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U.S. District Judge Aleta Trauger did, however, grant one dismissal and that was a claim by one of the plaintiffs against a basketball player. The plaintiff claimed there was a practice of deliberate indifference to sexual assaults by Tennessee before her alleged sexual assault in 2013. The judge ruled that there was a statute of limitation on those claims and that it had expired.

However, the other seven plaintiffs can proceed with their claims that there was deliberate indifference by the university. All eight are allowed to argue the disciplinary process in their individual cases was biased against the victims.

On Feb. 9, a group of eight unidentified women filed suit against the school for its handling of sexual assault complaints made against student-athletes. The federal suit claimed Tennessee created a “hostile sexual environment” through indifference toward assaults by student-athletes.

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For more Tennessee news, visit VolQuest.com.

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Graham Watson is the editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter! Follow @YahooDrSaturday