Longtime UI coach dropped from lawsuit

IOWA CITY - Longtime University of Iowa rowing coach Mandi Kowal, who resigned in May amid scrutiny around the way she treated athletes and a lawsuit accusing her of negligence as a coach, has been dropped as a defendant in the case.

The suit now names the University of Iowa, the Board of Regents and the state of Iowa as defendants. Those parties' attorneys argued that when a state employee is sued for alleged negligence within the scope of his or her employment, Iowa law requires the state to be named in place of the employee as a defendant.

The suit was filed by ex-coxswain Margaret Krusing, who claims she developed a painful condition in her legs after poorly supervised workouts. Krusing's attorney has said the state has agreed to settlement talks.