Hunter
06/29/22
A judge has ordered the University of Iowa to turn over all records involving an independent review of its football program as the suit involving a group of former players continues.
The Gazette reports that Chief US Magistrate Judge Helen Adams issued the order on June 24th, despite the university’s assertions that the records are subject to attorney-client privilege and should be kept private.
Adams said that the UI’s decision to hire the Husch Blackwell law firm to conduct the investigation following allegations from former players that the football program enabled racially-motivated discrimination was made well in advance of the suit being brought. She said that the law firm did not prepare documents in anticipation of litigation, because no such prospect of litigation existed at the time, therefore, the firm’s findings and documents are not privileged.
Among the documents players want include strength and conditioning coach Chris Doyle’s performance evaluations and Husch Blackwell personnel reports on head coach Kirk Ferentz, assistant coaches Brian Ferentz and Seth Wallace, and Doyle.
The University must produce the lion’s share of the requested documents no later than July 11th.