Court reopens sex discrimination lawsuit against Univ. of Washington

SEATTLE -- An appeals court reinstated a lawsuit against the University of Washington by a woman who claims she was raped by a member of the football team in 2001.

The university is accused of sex discrimination.

The woman is a former equipment manager who says she was assaulted by Roc Alexander in 2001 after they ended a relationship.

Alexander, who now plays for the Houston Texans, denies the rape accusation.

An attorney for the University of Washington, Andrew Cooley, said the woman never told the university she had been raped and considered the matter closed after mediation.

The lawyer for the woman, Rebecca Roe, said it was inappropriate for the university to use mediation to resolve a rape allegation because it suggests the woman shares responsibility.