Assault cases under investigation at LSU

LSU officials have begun meeting with experts from a law firm investigating the university's handling of reported sexual and domestic assault cases.

In a published letter to members of the LSU community, interim LSU president Thomas C. Galligan Jr. and athletic director Scott Woodward the hiring of the Husch Blackwell law firm is aimed at “healing and progress related to recent allegations” about LSU's handling of such cases.

Galligan and Woodward say findings are expected to be complete in February and released in a public report.

Husch Blackwell's areas of expertise include federal Title IX laws that are meant to protect people from discrimination based on gender at academic institutions

While the investigation will encompass all departments at LSU, several high-profile allegations in recent years have involved members of LSU's football team including former star running back Derrius Guice and former receiver Drake Davis.

Guice left LSU in good standing and was an NFL draft pick, only to be released by the Washington Football Team this year after being charged criminally with chocking his girlfriend until she was unconscious.

Davis was suspended from LSU's football team and ultimately dismissed from the university because of allegations of repeated domestic abuse committed against a member of the women's tennis team.

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