A federal judge once again ruled against the University of Oregon in the ongoing Title IX lawsuit filed against the school by current and former members of its varsity beach volleyball and club rowing teams.
U.S. District Court Judge Michael McShane denied a motion for protective order to stay discovery filed by UO last month, stating there was “no good cause to delay discovery and is not ‘convinced that (Plaintiffs) will be unable to state a claim for relief,’” according to court records.
UO’s outside counsel from Perkins Coie filed the motion last month, seeking a delay until its three pending motions to dismiss aspects of the case are resolved.
The university filed motions to dismiss in July, when the sides also met for a settlement conference that ended without a resolution. The players’ attorneys responded to those motions in November. UO replied to those responses in a series of filings last week, stating the athletes “must allege facts from which this court can infer they were treated differently on account of their sex. They fail to do so.” The school contends the statute of limitations for the case should be one year, rather than two or six, and if the court agrees, then “all of the women’s club rowing plaintiffs’ claims should also be barred.”
McShane, who ruled in favor of the athletes last month to permit their attorneys to speak with coaches and non-management staff at UO, is scheduled to hear oral arguments on those pending motions on Feb. 26.