Oct 7, 2005 7:45 am US/Mountain
Women Claim CU Knew About Previous Sex Allegations
2 Women Trying To Revive Lawsuit Against CU
DENVER (AP) ―
Two women trying to revive their lawsuit against the University of Colorado over alleged sexual assaults by football players or recruits claim newly court-ordered released documents show CU officials knew about prior allegations, according to a document filed in U.S. District Court Thursday.
A federal judge ordered attorneys for the university in September to turn over the transcript of an interview by a CU campus police officer of a former student athletic trainer, who claims she was sexually assaulted by a football player.
Plaintiffs Lisa Simpson and another woman who has declined to be identified, claim the interview with the student trainer is new evidence that university officials knew about sexual harassment within the football program.
CU attorney Larry Pozner called the assertions in the court document "wild speculation" that lacked any relevance to the case.
"Wishing it were so won't make it so," he said. "As long as there is a breath they'll file another pleading."
U.S. District Judge Robert Blackburn dismissed the case in March, saying the women failed to prove the school had actual knowledge of sexual harassment of female students by football players and recruits. He also said they didn't show the school was deliberately indifferent to any known sexual harassment.
The judge has not yet ruled on a request from the women's attorneys to reconsider his decision in light of new evidence.
Simpson and the other woman claim in the court filing that the sealed interview with the student trainer reveals university counsel, former President Elizabeth Hoffman and other CU officials were aware of other incidents involving sexual assault allegations.
Simpson and the other woman allege they were sexually assaulted by football players or recruits at an off-campus party in December 2001.
(© 2005 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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