Meanwhile, both the N&O and WRAL confirm that Duke is in discussions with attorneys representing the unindicted players. The end to the WRAL article lays out the settlements into which Duke already has entered--a pretty good objective indication of the University's performance in the case. From WRAL:
Duke has already settled with at least five parties. In June, Duke settled with all three men, but the terms were never disclosed.
The university also reached a financial settlement with former lacrosse coach Mike Pressler, who was forced to resign shortly after the rape allegations surfaced. Terms of that agreement were not disclosed either.
And in May, it settled a suit filed by one of the undindicted players who claimed he received a failing grade in a class because he was a member of the lacrosse team.
12 comments:
If I was Wahneema Lubiano, I would sue Duke. After all she and the Group of 88 are the only ones not making money off of all their hard work. (LOL)
I still think that Duke is getting away with a STEELE in this drama.
Just how much financial loss can Duke tolerate without some of the SANER ( are there any?) members of the BOT pulling their names off the roll?
I think that the role that the book, "Until Proven Innocent" continues to play in this drama is significant. By collected so many facts and presenting the story whole it makes a case that is simply un-answerable.
One gets the impression that if a suit against Duke ever got to a jury the jury would become very angry well before the end of any trial.
I read a book a while back about the suit years ago against Texaco that resulted in an 11 billon dollar judgment. Contrary to defense spin, the jury was not naive regarding business matters. The foreman was a CPA. Afterwards, they spoke eloquently about their decision. It came down to this: Texaco tried to defend bad behaviour by asserting that where they come from it is considered OK to interfere with a contract, it is just the way the big boys play, even if you rubes with your silly old fashion notions don't like it.
Durham seems to have committed themselves to a similar line so far in defending their actions in this case.
Seems like Duke is about to make several big moves. (Smeagol, watch out!)
I hope this time, a settlement includes some changes in the composition of the faculty, as well as some revisions in the contracts of those who aren't fired, but who did some nasty stuff. Moral clauses, especially:
"Thou shalt not throw thy students under the bus," etc.
(this is a moment for MOO Gregory to write the list of commandments, eh?)
KC> you have had a big impact on some justice now coming around at Duke. I do hope it also opens some minds on both sides about fairness, honesty and prejudice.
I hope the rightful suits continue. If any of the G88 break their Duke imposed silence with the agreement made with the three most harmed students> I hope they get sued as well, they got off easy.
I have a student in college at present. I hope his school and all others around the country are learning how not to handle a crisis and are re-committing to their mission which is education of young adults.
The national health issue of alcohol consumption on college campus's is in my mind a public health issue, not a legal issue. I believe bringing civility and some interaction in appropriate settings with mature adults around would improve the drinking scene on campus's. My older son told me long after he graduated from college that the first 6 weeks of college were the scariest of his life. Hearing that more families are coming forward just brings me back to how much harm was done by the school toward these young men. This is the story: many innocent, normal college students were severely hurt by the actions of their school and the public authorities. I hope it doesn't happen again.
This is typical. Hire the lawyers. Let them make lots of money off of everyone else.
Those who don't like big-time college/university sports may have a point. Avoid problems. Keep 'em off your campus. Permit only more individual sports, like track and field, golf, tennis, and swimming. If a team sport at all, maybe soccer.
Man, it's going to be raining money at Duke and in Durham real soon. Brodhead's "leadership" will end up costing Duke tens of millions of dollars. As a 501(c)(3) wouldn't they have to disclose such payouts to the IRS?
Given Duke's bleeding, the Bull City must realize it's next and the $30M is mere chump change given its legal exposure.
The Hoax is the gift that keeps on giving....
Actually Steele's strategy was pretty smart. Cold but smart.
If he goes against the race hustlers and he's wrong, the race hustlers will hound him out of his job.
Steele was wrong, Duke pays out a paltry few million dollars and everyone keeps their jobs at Duke, except for the poor lax coach.
Let the sun shine in!!!
Inre: "...Texaco that resulted in an 11 billon dollar judgment..."
Joe Jamail represented Penzoil and was rewarded so much so that he made a significant donation to The University of Texas.
If you catch a UT football game the cameras usually show a view of the south end zone where you will see his name atop the fieldhouse.
Don't you know it torques the angry studies department faculty into knots knowing that someone would donate so much money to a helmeted sports team of males.
If Duke admin and its (mis)trustees had showed just a little sensitivity to the players' plight, and maybe even consulted their own handbooks, maybe they wouldn't have to fork over those millions of dollars that otherwise could have been spent on educational programs. Instead, they've been settling every lacrosse-related case that lands on their laps. Which doesn't make sense especially since in John Burness' opinion, there's more than one view to this whole event.
Like Custer, already sporting three arrows sticking out of his abdomen, demanding the Indian's total surrender:
"This is typical. Hire the lawyers. Let them make lots of money off of everyone else.
Those who don't like big-time college/university sports may have a point. Avoid problems. Keep 'em off your campus. Permit only more individual sports, like track and field, golf, tennis, and swimming. If a team sport at all, maybe soccer.
9/28/07 1:05 AM"
It is the height of arrogance to keep making your demands after you have been established to have been wrong (or lying or both) AND either lynchers or lyncher-enablers.
This reminds me of Duke University seeking to hire a Diversity & Equity Officer after the Hoax was exposed. Instead, Duke should have put money into "DE-sensitivity training."
___________________
To MAC (or is it Robin Williams):
I would start out very generally and work to the specific -
FACULTY HANDBOOK
1. Duke Faculty will not shoot to kill any student based upon the student's race, gender, class or participation in a sport.
2. Duke Faculty will not poison any student based upon the student's race, gender, class or participation in a sport.
3. Duke Faculty will not stab any student based upon the student's race, gender, class or participation in a sport.
4. Duke Faculty will not lynch any student based upon the student's race, gender, class or participation in a sport.
....
___________________
"K.C. Johnson is really Buddah with a bowtie and a Total Home Gym." ZEN TODAY (Aug. 2007). MOO! Gregory
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