WACO, Texas — A federal judge moved a Title IX and negligence lawsuit that names Baylor University, former football coach Art Briles and former athletic director Ian McCaw as defendants, and that stems from the school's mishandling of sexual violence reports, closer to trial Wednesday.
U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman set the rules for the upcoming trial at a hearing Wednesday and said he would be questioning potential jurors because of the «sensitivities» in the case. Jury selection is scheduled to begin Oct. 13 in Waco.
A 2016 lawsuit claims Baylor, Briles and McCaw were at fault for a football player's alleged repeated physical assault of a former female student and the ongoing harm she suffered as a result.
The plaintiff, Dolores Lozano, is accusing the university of discrimination under the federal Title IX gender equity law, and Briles, McCaw and Baylor of negligence under Texas state law. She filed the lawsuit just months after an outside investigation found rampant problems with discipline in the Baylor football program and the university's handling of sexual violence complaints.
Lawyers for Baylor, Briles and McCaw declined to comment while leaving the U.S. District Court in the Western District of Texas on Wednesday.
«Baylor is prepared to present evidence and testimony to the jury as we seek a fair resolution in this matter,» Baylor spokesperson Jason Cook said in a separate statement Wednesday. «The lawsuit involves allegations of physical assaults within the context of a dating relationship between two young adults — not sexual assault. Baylor coaches and employees — in Athletics and across the campus — did the right things in this case by offering and providing resources and support services to the
Read more on espn.com
espn.com
