In 1998 a former player, Melissa Jennings, sued Dorrance for sexual harassment. He had just cut her from the team. Initially, it appeared the suit was retaliation against Dorrance. However, Debbie Keller Hill, a former team captain, joined the suit. In October 2004 U.S. District Court Judge N. Carlton Tilley, Jr. threw out the six-year lawsuit, stating the "behavior at issue does not constitute severe, pervasive and objectively offensive sexual harassment." In April 2006 a three judge federal appeals panel voted to not reverse the judgement (2–1). Jennings appealed to the full court with oral arguments taking place in October 2006. Hill had earlier settled with the university for $70,000.