Lawyers Discuss Potential Duke Lacrosse Civil Rights Lawsuit

[laureloak]

Durham —

High-profile attorneys representing three former Duke University lacrosse players falsely accused of rape and sexual assault met Wednesday with legal counsel for the City of Durham about a possible civil rights lawsuit.

A city spokeswoman confirmed last month that civil attorneys for David Evans, Collin Finnerty and Reade Seligmann contacted the city about, but it was not known who would be named in any complaint.

"At this point, it is inappropriate to comment regarding the meeting and possible claims," Durham public affairs director Amy Blalock said in a statement released Wednesday afternoon.

Attorneys for the city were to brief Durham City Council members Thursday at 11 a.m. in a closed meeting.

Attorneys for the falsely accused former lacrosse players had no comment Wednesday, but Finnerty's father, Kevin Finnerty, said he sees the potential litigation as a way to hold the city accountable.

"If there were crimes committed and these people truly did things criminally and wrong, and they're responsible, then they're responsible," he said.

Seligmann retained New York attorney Barry Scheck, who helped defend O.J. Simpson in his highly publicized 1995 murder trial, to represent him.

Evans and Finnerty retained Washington D.C. attorneys Christopher Manning and Brendan V. Sullivan Jr. – who received attention for representing Lt. Col. Oliver North in the Iran-Contra scandal.

"We do have civil counsel. They are also excellent," Kevin Finnerty said. "We are following their lead."
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http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/1777604/

[mbperrin]

1. Wow. Simpson and North. Really in an elite company now.

And they certainly have suffered, having to live under an overpass now. Gosh, when they said all they wanted was justice, I did not realize that was spelled M-O-N-E-Y. Ah, well.

[kanrok]

2. Not for nothing

But these kids were scewed over by an overzealous prosecutor. I can easliy see how the allegations made against them can make their futures more challenging. They have a right to fight for their reputations.

[ccpup]

5. I completely agree.

They may never know if the job they're not getting or the opportunity that's being denied them is based on their talents and skills or on the still lingering stench of a desperate prosecutor. And the City let that man attack them without a leash!

[FreakinDJ]

3. They should sue

Like they have any chance of a meaningful career after their names were drug threw the mud like that

[sailor65]

4. Good for them

These families spent crazy amounts of money defending this thing. They ought to go after Sharpton, too.