Hunter
02/01/22
The group of former Hawkeye football players who filed a lawsuit against the school for alleged racial discrimination and harassment have asked a US District Court judge to intervene and force the school to turn over requested documents and information.
The Gazette reports that the players are accusing the UI of “persistent and intentional subversion.” They’re asking the judge to turn over an independent review that was produced in 2020 on head coach Kirk Ferentz, offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz, assistant defensive coordinator Seth Wallace, and former strength and conditioning coach Chris Doyle. They’re also asking for additional documents and records pertaining to their suit.
Attorneys for the players accuse the University of extending discovery deadlines in an alleged effort to push the litigation into the next football season, and are asking that the court order the University defendants to, quote, “immediately produce all documents responsive to plaintiffs’ requests and grant attorney fees and costs incurred as a result of defendants’ discovery misconduct.”
The State’s Attorney General’s Office responded in December that the university is doing their best to gather all requested documents, but also pointed out that they have until September 13th of this year to do so. Nevertheless, the players claim the U of I continues to delay the turning over of documents by the dates that were promised or agreed to.
The paper says that a status conference in the case is scheduled for February 23rd, with trial set for March of next year.