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[bweiner]

Are we going to see a lawsuit against the person who wrongfully accused these guys?

That woman tainted their lives for years ahead, caused immeasurable upset to them and their families and no small financial loss in hiring lawyers to defend baseless charges.

Oh, and while we're at it, do we expect to see any comment or apology from the Reverend Al Sharpton?

I'm going to guess the answer to both my questions is a resounding, No!

[minor_t]

On another thread, someone mentioned the professors who came down on the side against the lax players.  If I were one of them, I'd be concerned about a lawsuit and possible repercussions. 

Filing a civil suit against the young woman might lead to a moral victory but she doesn't have any money so what's the point?  She has more than her share of problems anyway. 

But Nifong and the professors?  Could be trouble for them.  The families of the players will want to recoup their legal costs.

Sharpton is too busy being interviewed about Don Imus.

[griz882]

I responded to this on another thread concerning the rush to judgement.  My limited understanding is that the lawyers for the young men are filing a complaint against the "88" profs who signed and published the letter several months ago.  Again, I know next to nothing of the law, but the conventional take on my campus is that the lacrosse players are going for a civil case first followed by a hate-crime case in criminal court.

There is a wealth of power behind tenure, but I doubt it will help these people in a court room.

 

[merce]

Umm, what would the profs be sued for?
I missed it.

[jonesey]

Umm, what would the profs be sued for?
I missed it.

Well, one prof is already being sued by a lacrosse player for receiving an "F" which, the student says, is because of his membership on the team.

Duke is being sued for breach of contract and unjust enrichment. [Professor] Curtis and Duke are being sued for fraud, negligent misrepresentation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, negligence, and punitive damages. For all but one of those claims the lawsuit states that the plaintiffs were damaged in excess of $10,000.

Professor Curtis was among the "Group of 88" professors who published an advertisement in the Duke Chronicle calling the rape scandal a "social disaster." The Group of 88, perceived by critics as attacking the Lacrosse team, at one point thanked protesters who posted "wanted" fliers containing photos of all or nearly all of the Lacrosse players.

This happened back in January, but it gives you a taste of what's likely to come.

[merce]

Whoa!

Profs can be sued for giving students emotional distress.

Every one of my kids can sue me.

I thought that was my job!

[bweiner]

Cute! I do, however, think we all agree that there's a substantial difference between the ordinary emotional stress caused in academe and the irresponsible behavior of professors who are supposed to be guiding our younger generation on thinking clearly and logically. (Would that some professor at Yale had had that sort of influence on our Commander in Chief.)

It seems to me that they ought to have to defend their very real actions in rushing to judgement in the same way that the kids were asked to do so against merely alleged actions.

[goldenapple]

Oh, and while we're at it, do we expect to see any comment or apology from the Reverend Al Sharpton?

I don't believe that Sharpton ever actually apologized for what he said about Steven Pagones, although he was convicted of having slandered him.

[merce]

Cute! I do, however, think we all agree that there's a substantial difference between the ordinary emotional stress caused in academe and the irresponsible behavior of professors who are supposed to be guiding our younger generation on thinking clearly and logically. (Would that some professor at Yale had had that sort of influence on our Commander in Chief.)

It seems to me that they ought to have to defend their very real actions in rushing to judgement in the same way that the kids were asked to do so against merely alleged actions.

I know I was cute. I am cute.
but, seriously.

What did they say or do that was worthy of a lawsuit. I thought I'd ask here rather than google it and weed through gazillions of hits.

What are the specifics?

[abdbiz]

Id love to see those professors lose their jobs.

[spork]

Civil suits against the former DA, Nifong.  He will also be disbarred because of ethics violations.  Duke will cough up money to end legal action against it by the 3 exonerated former students.

[philoctetes]

Id love to see those professors lose their jobs.

I am not sure I would love it... or hate it either. Frankly, I'll admit, I thought the player's were likely guilty, but I remember thinking at the time that that letter was a dumb idea.

What I am amazed is that supposedly some of the 88 that signed the letter against the lacrosse players were university staff members. I used to the idea that faculty can be boneheaded and think they are immune from any consequences of their actions, but in my experience staff members are usually a little more wary. 

[latis]

but, seriously.

What did they say or do that was worthy of a lawsuit. I thought I'd ask here rather than google it and weed through gazillions of hits.

What are the specifics?

Here is a link to the full text:

http://listening.nfshost.com/listening.htm

And here are pieces.

We are listening to our students.We’re also listening to the Durham community, to Duke staff, and to each other.
Regardless of the results of the police investigation, what is apparent everyday now is the anger and fear of many students who know themselves to be objects of racism and sexism, who see illuminated in this moment’s extraordinary spotlight what they live with everyday.
They know that it isn’t just Duke, it isn’t everybody, and it isn’t just individuals making this disaster.
But it is a disaster nonetheless.

The students know that the disaster didn’t begin on March 13th and won’t end with what the police say or the court decides. Like all disasters, this one has a history. And what lies beneath what we’re hearing from our students are questions about the future.



We’re turning up the volume in a moment when some of the most vulnerable among us are being asked to quiet down while we wait. To the students speaking individually and to the protestors making collective noise, thank you for not waiting and for making yourselves heard.

[spork]

but, seriously.

What did they say or do that was worthy of a lawsuit. I thought I'd ask here rather than google it and weed through gazillions of hits.

What are the specifics?

Here is a link to the full text:

http://listening.nfshost.com/listening.htm

And here are pieces.

We are listening to our students.We’re also listening to the Durham community, to Duke staff, and to each other.
Regardless of the results of the police investigation, what is apparent everyday now is the anger and fear of many students who know themselves to be objects of racism and sexism, who see illuminated in this moment’s extraordinary spotlight what they live with everyday.
They know that it isn’t just Duke, it isn’t everybody, and it isn’t just individuals making this disaster.
But it is a disaster nonetheless.

The students know that the disaster didn’t begin on March 13th and won’t end with what the police say or the court decides. Like all disasters, this one has a history. And what lies beneath what we’re hearing from our students are questions about the future.



We’re turning up the volume in a moment when some of the most vulnerable among us are being asked to quiet down while we wait. To the students speaking individually and to the protestors making collective noise, thank you for not waiting and for making yourselves heard.

Typical leftist academic claptrap.

[rugger101]

We are listening to our students.We’re also listening to the Durham community, to Duke staff, and to each other.
Regardless of the results of the police investigation, what is apparent everyday now is the anger and fear of many students who know themselves to be objects of racism and sexism, who see illuminated in this moment’s extraordinary spotlight what they live with everyday.
They know that it isn’t just Duke, it isn’t everybody, and it isn’t just individuals making this disaster.
But it is a disaster nonetheless.

The students know that the disaster didn’t begin on March 13th and won’t end with what the police say or the court decides. Like all disasters, this one has a history. And what lies beneath what we’re hearing from our students are questions about the future.



We’re turning up the volume in a moment when some of the most vulnerable among us are being asked to quiet down while we wait. To the students speaking individually and to the protestors making collective noise, thank you for not waiting and for making yourselves heard.

There is not enough here to win a lawsuit, but only a fool would sign something like this.