News / Education
Duke Lacrosse Players Seeking $30 Million from City of Durham
The three Duke lacrosse players falsely accused of raping a woman at a party in 2006 are now seeking a settlement of nearly $30 million from the city of Durham, North Carolina as well as legal reforms that, had they been in place, would have cleared the men of the charges at a much earlier stage.
As it happened, David Evans, Collin Finnerty and Reade Seligmann were cast as violent rapists who attacked the woman at a Duke University lacrosse party. Despite pleas of innocent the media, city and much of the nation believed the trio of men to be guilty and elevated racial tension in Durham after the accuser portrayed the rape in violent detail.
At the heart of the case was Durham district attorney Mike Nifong who won indictments against the three despite having DNA evidence that clearly showed the men to be innocent of the charges.
When it was discovered that Nifong had intentionally withheld evidence that showed the DNA evidence found on the accuser was not that of that of the three men state prosecutors dropped the charges and declared the men victims of a “tragic rush to accuse.”
Nifong has since been disbarred and the players are now seeking a settlement with the city for their part in the case. If the settlement demands aren’t met the players will file a civil rights lawsuit against the city.
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