Judge orders University of Colorado to turn over documents to women suing the school

Judge orders University of Colorado to turn over documents to women suing the school <br> <br> DENVER (AP) - A federal judge on Friday ordered the University of Colorado to turn over documents it is accused of withholding from two women who filed a lawsuit claiming they were raped by football players or recruits.<br> <br> In his order, U.S. District Magistrate Judge Craig B. Shaffer said he was ``struck by defense counsel&#39;s lack of candor&#39;&#39; and gave the university two weeks to turn over the documents and argue why it should not be penalized.<br> <br> The women&#39;s attorneys said they were pleased by the ruling.<br> <br> ``We&#39;re also pleased that the court is taking seriously the need for sanctioning or disciplining this improper conduct,&#39;&#39; said attorney Baine Kerr.<br> <br> Calls to university officials were not immediately returned.<br> <br> Among the documents ordered released were records from the school&#39;s Office of Sexual Harassment allegedly involving an investigation of a November 2001 incident between a female student trainer and football players or recruits at a hotel. The women also were seeking a university police department report about another sexual assault in December 2001.<br> <br> The women claim they were assaulted at an off-campus party in 2001. Their lawsuit alleged the university violated federal law by fostering an environment that led to the encounters.<br> <br> In March, U.S. District Judge Robert Blackburn dismissed the women&#39;s lawsuit, saying they had failed to prove the school had actual knowledge that football players and recruits sexually harassed female students. The women have asked Blackburn to reconsider his decision.<br> <br> The women&#39;s lawsuits ignited last year&#39;s recruiting scandal and prompted several investigations into the school&#39;s recruiting tactics.<br> <br> © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.