University of Oregon seeks dismissal of athletes’ lawsuit

EUGENE, Ore. — It will be several weeks before the University of Oregon knows whether a lawsuit filed against the school by former student athletes will be dismissed, according to the judge in the case.

U.S. District Judge Michael McShane said he will need that time to review all of the materials, including police reports, before making a decision, The Register Guard reported.

The University of Oregon argued in court Tuesday that the suit filed by three former UO basketball players should be thrown out.

Dominic Artis, Damyean Dotson and Brandon Austin sued the school after they were suspended and banned from campus for up to 10 years after being accused of raping a female student at an off-campus party. The university said the players violated the school’s code of conduct by engaging in sexual acts without explicit permission from the woman.

The athletes acknowledged having a sexual encounter with the woman but said it was consensual. They also argued that UO denied them due process.

The Lane County District Attorney’s Office reviewed the rape case but declined to prosecute due to a lack of evidence.

Austin filed a $7.5 million lawsuit against the university in October, while Dotson and Artis filed a joint $21 million lawsuit in March. The suits have been merged into a single lawsuit.