Title IX lawsuit against Tennessee has May 2018 trial date

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) The Title IX lawsuit filed against the University of Tennessee over its handling of sexual assault complaints has a scheduled trial date of May 22, 2018.

The offices of lawyers from both sides of the suit confirmed Friday that the trial date was set Thursday during a case management conference. The Tennessean first reported the trial date.

In a proposed case management order filed last week by lawyers for both the plaintiffs and the school, the two sides said they would expect a trial to last about three to four weeks.

The federal lawsuit, filed February in Nashville, alleges the school has violated Title IX policies and created a ''hostile sexual environment'' through a policy of indifference toward assaults by athletes. Eight unidentified women are listed as plaintiffs.