More Duke Lacrosse Players Sue

This is apparently two days old, but I'm just hearing about it now. Three Duke lacrosse players, but not the three who were unjustly indicted, have filed a 398-page civil action against Mike Nifong, police investigators, the DNA lab, city officials, and nurses who examined the false accuser.

The plaintiffs, who allege negligence, fraud and conspiracy, accuse Nifong of pursuing the criminal charges for political gain amid a closely contested Democratic primary.

"This case is a reckoning; it is an accounting of those who were willing to obstruct and pervert justice to serve their own selfish aims, those who had the power to intervene and did not, and the damage they have done," the lawsuit reads.

The players, Ryan McFadyen, Matthew Wilson and Breck Archer, were ordered to give DNA samples and be photographed as part of the investigation. McFadyen was then suspended when he wrote a jesting email that was tasteless and tactless.

They are asking for compensatory and punitive damages for 35 separate causes of action, including § 1983 violations, negligence, conspiracy, fraud, obstruction of justice, witness tampering, and negligent infliction of emotional distress.

At least two other suits arising from the Duke non-rape case are pending: the indicted players' civil suit against Mike Nifong and Coach Mike Pressler's against the university.

posted by Gabriel Malor at 03:23 AM

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