News / Sports
Rutgers Basketball Star Kia Vaughn Sues Don Imus, Claims Defamation of Character
It has been more than four months since Don Imus called the Rutgers University women’s basketball team “nappy-headed hos” and was unceremoniously dismissed from CBS. While Imus took abuse from civil rights groups, women’s organizations and other media personalities for his comments he was able to escape the episode without any legal consequences.
That was until Tuesday when Kia Vaughn, the center on the Final Four team, filed a lawsuit in New York’s state Supreme Court in the Bronx alleging that Imus had slandered her name and was guilty of defamation of character.
Kia Vaughn claims that the comments made by Imus have damaged her reputation and caused her humiliation and embarrassment. According to her attorney Richard Ancowitz “She would do anything to return to her life as a student and respected basketball player - a more simple life before Imus opened his mouth on April 4.”
Vaugh also named Imus’ co-host Bernard McGuirk and CBS in the lawsuit. The lawsuit did not specify a monetary figure.
Rutgers University lost to the Tennessee Lady Vols in the NCAA Finals in 2007.
