After an initial case management conference yesterday, Karen Doering, the attorney for former Lady Lion Jen Harris, said a settlement is still a possibility.

Regarding the discrimination lawsuit filed in the Federal Middle District Court in Harrisburg, Doering said that contingent on receiving transcripts, personnel files and prior discrimination complaints with the university, the plaintiff would be willing to settle out of court.

"We've been willing to sit down and talk with them since the beginning," Doering said. "There is certain information in possession of Penn State that we would like to have."

Attorneys representing Harris, Penn State women's basketball coach Rene Portland, Athletic Director Tim Curley and Penn State discussed procedural details with Judge Christopher C. Conner in Harrisburg via teleconference.

Neither Jim Horne, who represents Curley and the university, or Jack Stover, Portland's attorney, responded to messages left asking for comment.

According to Doering, Conner will release an order within 48 hours setting deadlines on evidence discovery, depositions and numerous court filings. There will also be an order for mediation, or a time in which both parties can discuss a settlement.

Penn State spokesmen Bill Mahon and Tysen Kendig did not respond to messages asking for comment.

Each party involved was not required to be present at the teleconference. Both Portland and Curley were in Indianapolis for the Big Ten Tournament, where Penn State won yesterday.

The lawsuit filed on Dec. 21 alleges that Portland discriminated against Harris on the basis of sexual orientation, gender and race when removing her from the Penn State women's basketball team last year. Harris claims that Portland perceived her to be a lesbian and that she was not "feminine enough."

On Jan. 26, the defendants motioned to have the case dismissed. Representation for Portland, Curley and the university filed briefs supporting the motion on Feb. 9, which argued that the school's discrimination policy is not a binding contract with its employees.