38 former laxers to file suit today
University will face third suit in as many months
By: Chelsea Allison
Issue date: 2/21/08 Section: News
Last update: 2/21/08 at 5:58 AM EST
Last update: 2/21/08 at 5:58 AM EST
Thirty eight of the 47 members of the 2005-2006 men's lacrosse team are expected to sue the University and other parties today, the media representative for their attorney confirmed Wednesday.
The 100-page lawsuit-the third civil suit in as many months against Duke-will be filed by Washington, D.C., attorney Charles Cooper.
A press conference will be held at 1 p.m. at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., with the players and their families, said spokesperson Bob Bork.
He added that a Web site, www.dukelawsuit.com, has been established to provide updates. It will also host the complaint and video from the conference.
Cooper, partner at Cooper and Kirk and a former U.S. assistant attorney general, told Legal Times in an article published last week that he planned to file suit by the end of February.
"We will seek recovery for the treatment-the really shameful treatment-that the players received throughout the ordeal," Cooper said, referring to the will-be plaintiffs' experience after bogus allegations of rape were made against members of their team in March 2006.
The University added former U.S. deputy attorney general Jamie Gorelick to its legal team Feb. 6 to help its defense in ongoing litigations. Gorelick is a partner at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, another Washington, D.C., firm.
Duke is already embroiled in a civil suit filed by an attorney for three other unindicted players. The suit, which alleged the University and others directed a wide conspiracy against the players, was filed in December by Durham attorney Bob Ekstrand.
Former men's lacrosse head coach Mike Pressler filed charges against Duke in January, claiming that the University had violated terms of a confidential financial settlement made after he was forced to resign during the initial fallout from the allegations. He later withdrew those charges and refiled, alleging slander.
Wrongly-indicted former players Reade Seligmann, Collin Finnerty and Dave Evans, Trinity '06, settled with the University for an undisclosed amount in June.
Both Gorelick and John Burness, senior vice president for public affairs and government relations, declined to comment further.
The 100-page lawsuit-the third civil suit in as many months against Duke-will be filed by Washington, D.C., attorney Charles Cooper.
A press conference will be held at 1 p.m. at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., with the players and their families, said spokesperson Bob Bork.
He added that a Web site, www.dukelawsuit.com, has been established to provide updates. It will also host the complaint and video from the conference.
Cooper, partner at Cooper and Kirk and a former U.S. assistant attorney general, told Legal Times in an article published last week that he planned to file suit by the end of February.
"We will seek recovery for the treatment-the really shameful treatment-that the players received throughout the ordeal," Cooper said, referring to the will-be plaintiffs' experience after bogus allegations of rape were made against members of their team in March 2006.
The University added former U.S. deputy attorney general Jamie Gorelick to its legal team Feb. 6 to help its defense in ongoing litigations. Gorelick is a partner at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr, another Washington, D.C., firm.
Duke is already embroiled in a civil suit filed by an attorney for three other unindicted players. The suit, which alleged the University and others directed a wide conspiracy against the players, was filed in December by Durham attorney Bob Ekstrand.
Former men's lacrosse head coach Mike Pressler filed charges against Duke in January, claiming that the University had violated terms of a confidential financial settlement made after he was forced to resign during the initial fallout from the allegations. He later withdrew those charges and refiled, alleging slander.
Wrongly-indicted former players Reade Seligmann, Collin Finnerty and Dave Evans, Trinity '06, settled with the University for an undisclosed amount in June.
Both Gorelick and John Burness, senior vice president for public affairs and government relations, declined to comment further.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 89
duke parent
posted 2/21/08 @ 8:06 AM EST
"Shameful treatment" is an understatement. Surprised John Burness didn't have a comment - he sure had PLENTY to say before.
Sounds like the players have lined up a very qualified defense team. (Continued…)
drsl
Doris
posted 2/21/08 @ 8:24 AM EST
Burness declined to comment? Hell must've frozen over. Nothing that man likes more than to run his mouth. Wonder how much he will end up costing Duke with his untimely and ill-advised and outright ridiculous statments. (Continued…)
watt
posted 2/21/08 @ 8:34 AM EST
I expect that this lawsuit is only being filed with great reluctance, and out of frustration and disappointment that certain members of the Duke administration and faculty have never fully accepted responsibility for their reprehensible actions in 2006. (Continued…)
BSME69
posted 2/21/08 @ 10:31 AM EST
Until the University publicly rebukes the now entirely discredited statements of the Group of 88, I will hope the best for these lawsuits. Brodhead's wimper was just that -- a weak statement which seemed to be only a personal regret. (Continued…)
Walter Abbott
posted 2/21/08 @ 10:32 AM EST
News release and case summary:
http://www.bork.com//downloads/Duke%20Lawsuit%20news%20release.pdf
http://www.bork.com/downloads/Case%20Summary%202. (Continued…)
pearl
posted 2/21/08 @ 11:05 AM EST
On of the problems at Duke revealed by the lacrosse case is that some members of the administration and faculty have acted imperiously, as though they are accountable to no one, least of all their students, whom they are pledged to serve. (Continued…)
ben
posted 2/21/08 @ 11:33 AM EST
this is ridiculous. if the duke lacrosse team didn't have a bad reputation before, this surely will push them over the edge.
everybody's wanting a little money out of this. (Continued…)
cnn
posted 2/21/08 @ 11:36 AM EST
One of the top stories on CNN. Incredible. Brodhead and others: when are you going to freaking resign? You'll still get respondeat superior.
Matthew Duke '05
posted 2/21/08 @ 12:09 PM EST
Ryan and the three exonerated players have reason to sue Duke; these folks, no. Three words: absurd, sad, and frivolous. That said I'm sure the lawsuit will be a barrel of laughs to read. (Continued…)
doris
posted 2/21/08 @ 12:36 PM EST
Hey you students/ former students. I'm a Duke alumna, and I'm pretty ashamed of your nearsightedness. ITS NOT ABOUT THE MONEY! It's about a rogue prosecutor, a rogue university administration, and a rogue city. (Continued…)
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