U of M football players appeal dismissal of federal lawsuit

U of M football players appeal dismissal of federal lawsuit Photo: KSTP/File

Updated: July 24, 2019 11:24 AM

Nine University of Minnesota football players involved in an investigation into sexual assault allegations in 2016 have appealed after their federal lawsuit was dismissed by a U.S. District Court judge last month.

Court documents show the appeal was filed Tuesday.

The players alleged "racial and gender discrimination; intentional, willful, and malicious misconduct; and deliberate indifference" on the part of the school, now former University President Eric Kaler, and Tina Marisam, the director of the university's Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action.

However, in June, Judge Donovan W. Frank ruled there were insufficient legal grounds to support those claims.

A female student accused several Gopher football players of sexual assault in September 2016.

After a police investigation, the Hennepin County Attorney's Office declined to press criminal charges.

However, 10 players were initially suspended, leading to a highly-publicized bowl game boycott and eventually a coaching change.

In the end, four players were expelled, one had his expulsion reduced to a one-year suspension and the rest were cleared of wrongdoing.

KSTP's complete coverage of the investigation