Colorado settles assault lawsuit

BOULDER, Colo., Dec. 5 (UPI) -- The University of Colorado announced Wednesday it will pay $2.85 million to two women who said they were assaulted at a party for football recruits.

The incident occurred six years ago.

"This settlement closes the chapter on a painful period of the university's history," Colorado President Hank Brown wrote in a letter to the school's faculty and staff. "The University of Colorado is a different place than it was six years ago. New leadership and dramatic reforms have made CU a national leader in promoting student safety."

A lawsuit was brought against the school by Lisa Simpson and Anne Gilmore. Simpson will receive $2.5 million in the settlement and Gilmore $350,000.

The case was thrown out by a federal judge in 2005 and the two women were ordered to pay the university unspecified legal fees. But that decision was reversed by an appellate court.

"Ms. Simpson's efforts have contributed to making the university a safer place for all its students," Brown said. "The university and I profoundly regret that Ms. Simpson underwent a very traumatic experience while a member of our university community."