UConn to Pay $1.3M Over Handling of Sex Assault Allegations

The University of Connecticut will pay five students $1.3 million dollars after the women filed a Title IX lawsuit against the school for the mishandling of their rape and sexual harassment complaints, WFSB reports.

Last November, four current and former UConn students filed a federal lawsuit against the university alleging that the their rape and sexual harassment complaints were ignored. A fifth woman joined the lawsuit in December. The alleged attacks occurred between 2010 and 2013, while the five women were students at the university.

In the settlement agreement and release statement, Uconn "categorically denies the allegations contained in the lawsuit." In the release the plaintiffs are banned from making any disparaging comments about Uconn.

The lawsuit and the complaint to the U.S. Education Department will be dropped on behalf of the women, as part of the joint settlement agreement.

According to WFSB, UConn and the plaintiffs said they are all dedicated to "eliminating sexual and gender-based harassment and violence" and are committed to making UConn the safest possible campus.  

Gloria Allred, high profile civil rights and feminist attorney, represented the women who will receive between $25,000- $900,000, according to the Associated Press. The largest settlement of $900,000 will go to Silvana Moccia, a former UConn hockey player who alleged she was kicked off the team after reporting she had been raped by a male hockey player in August 2011.

Kylie Angell, Carolyn Luby, Rosemary Richi and Erica Daniels will all receive between $25,000- $125,000 in the settlement. The Associated Press does not normally release the names of victims in sexual assault cases, however, the women wanted to make their names public.

None of the men accused in the complaints faced any criminal charges. 

To read the full settlement statement, click here.

To read the article on WFSB click here.