Duquesne University has said its statement to the press in the wake of a law professor's discrimination suit was not defamatory despite the professor's amended complaint alleging the contrary.

After Duquesne University School of Law professor Susan Hascall sued the university and its law school dean, Kenneth Gormley, for age, sex and religious scholarship discrimination, the university quickly issued a statement denouncing the merits of the suit and lauding Gormley's track record at the university.

Late last month, Hascall amended her complaint to include a count for defamation, alleging the university's statement to the media, including to The Legal, was defamatory and issued with the intent to further harm her reputation. The university responded Monday that its statement was true, not capable of defamatory meaning and was opinion. The university further noted in its response that a portion of what Hascall was alleging was defamatory was not part of the university's statement, but rather was part of its answer to the initial complaint in the case and therefore privileged.