Tennessee settles Title IX lawsuit for $2.48 million

The University of Tennessee has settled a lawsuit filed by eight woman who claimed the school mishandled complaints of sexual assaults against student-athletes.

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The University of Tennessee has settled a lawsuit filed by eight woman who claimed the school mishandled complaints of sexual assaults against student-athletes, according to the Tennessean. 

The school will pay out $2.48 million, which includes attorney fees, to the plaintiffs.

As part of the terms of the settlement, Tennessee did not admit to “guilt, negligence or unlawful acts.”

The school has also agreed to appoint a special independent commission to review the handling of sexual assaults at the five campuses in the UT school system.

The plaintiffs in the suit have withdrawn two complaints against the university and have agreed that they and their parents will not comment on the case.

The lawsuit led to Tennessee calling a press conference where 16 varsity coaches defended the culture of the school. 

The case also gained national attention after it referenced a case involving Peyton Manning from 1996, in which the former NFL quarterback was accused of sexual harassment while attending the university. 

Tennessee is one of the many schools across the country being investigated by the federal government for possible violations of Title IX, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex at a federally funded education program.