Former Kentucky swimming coach formally denies sexual abuse allegations

Former University of Kentucky swimming coach Lars Jorgensen has formally denied allegations of sexual abuse contained in a lawsuit brought by two former UK swimmers and assistant coaches.

Nineteen weeks after a lawsuit was filed in federal court accusing Jorgensen of repeated rapes of Bridgette Alexander, a female swimmer who has since transitioned as Briggs Alexander, and of sexually abusing a second plaintiff known as Jane Doe, Jorgensen denied all of their allegations and asked U.S. District Judge Karen Caldwell to dismiss the case in a Friday afternoon court filing.

“The conduct of this defendant was not the proximate cause or a substantial factor in causing any of the injuries or damage, if any occurred, alleged by the plaintiff,” Jorgensen’s response said.

The 20-page response from Lexington attorney Anthony Pernice did not provide an alternative version of the events described by Alexander and Jane Doe in their lawsuit. Previously, another attorney representing Jorgensen had characterized the relationships as consensual, a claim vigorously disputed by the plaintiffs.

The University of Kentucky, UK Athletics Ddirector Mitch Barnhart and former UK swimming coach Gary Conelly are also defendants in the case, accused of negligence in their response to complaints about Jorgensen’s conduct that date to his 2012 hiring as Conelly’s assistant and heir apparent.

An attorney for the plaintiffs, Megan Bonanni, said Jorgensen’s response “does not confront the fundamental concerns raised in our April lawsuit. This maneuver seems designed to evade responsibility rather than address the serious allegations. Our commitment to securing justice for the courageous individuals who have bravely shared their experiences of abuse and a toxic environment at the University of Kentucky remains resolute.”

The university has sought to eliminate four of the six counts in which it is a named defendant, claiming sovereign immunity as a state institution and arguing it cannot be held liable for Jorgensen’s alleged conduct because it was not within the scope of his employment.

Jorgensen’s response was initially due on July 26, but that deadline passed without a filing or an application for an extension.

On Aug. 9, the Liberty Mutual insurance company sought a declaratory judgment that it has no duty to defend or indemnify Jorgensen against the lawsuit. Jorgensen’s homeowners policies contained a personal liability limit of $500,000 per “occurrence,” a term the company defines as an “accident.” According to the company’s filing, Jorgensen’s policies included an exclusion for “expected or intended injury” and do not cover “an insured’s intentional or criminal acts.”

Kentucky Lantern is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Kentucky Lantern maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jamie Lucke for questions: info@kentuckylantern.com. Follow Kentucky Lantern on Facebook and X.