Costs of Title IX lawsuit to UT surpass $3 million

Tennessee coaches appear at a news conference on Feb. 23, 2016, in Knoxville. The coaches held a news conference two weeks after a group of unidentified women sued the school over its handling of sexual assault complaints made against student-athletes.
Tennessee coaches appear at a news conference on Feb. 23, 2016, in Knoxville. The coaches held a news conference two weeks after a group of unidentified women sued the school over its handling of sexual assault complaints made against student-athletes.

KNOXVILLE - The costs of attorney fees and the settlement of a Title IX lawsuit to the University of Tennessee have grown to more than $3 million.

Tennessee is paying $2.48 million to settle the lawsuit filed in Nashville by eight unidentified women who said the school had violated Title IX regulations and fostered a "hostile sexual environment" through a policy of indifference toward assaults by athletes.

Tennessee's athletic department and the school's central administration are splitting the settlement's cost.

The Knoxville News Sentinel reports the cost for university lawyers was about $540,000 as of July 6. Officials say that amount is paid by the state and then billed back to the university.

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