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Expert: Players have uphill climb in suit against UI

Seven former University of Illinois women's basketball players could have a tough time winning their $10 million discrimination lawsuit against the UI, says a central Illinois lawyer who represents plaintiffs in civil rights cases.

Springfield lawyer John Baker said he has no idea how strong the case is but said lawsuits of this kind are "very challenging."

"Plaintiffs in these types of cases always have a lot of hurdles to overcome. That's probably even more true when you're dealing with an institution like the University of Illinois," he said.

Baker was stunned by the amount of damages sought.