Ex-Tenn. school officials respond to lawsuit in rape case

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) Three former officials at a Tennessee high school are seeking a dismissal of a lawsuit filed against them over the rape and assault of a freshman basketball player in an apparent hazing incident, saying they shouldn't be held liable.

James Jarvis, Andre Montgomery, Jesse Nayadley are being sued by the victim in the Ooltewah High School case. The lawsuit says school officials knew Ooltewah athletes were being abused and did nothing about it. The Hamilton County Board of Education is also being sued and has filed a similar response seeking the lawsuit's dismissal.

Jarvis was Ooltewah's principal, Montgomery the basketball coach and Nayadley was an assistant principal last year. Three former Ooltewah players were convicted earlier this year of juvenile charges in connection with the December assault of a freshman teammate. One was convicted of aggravated rape and aggravated assault, while two others were convicted of aggravated assault.

The Chattanooga Times Free Press first reported the filing.