Durham, N.C. – Duke University has reached an undisclosed financial settlement with three former lacrosse players falsely accused of rape, the school said Monday.
Duke suspended Reade Seligmann, Collin Finnerty and Dave Evans after they were charged last year with raping a stripper at an off-campus party. The university also canceled the team’s season and forced the coach to resign.
“We welcomed their exoneration and deeply regret the difficult year they and their families have had to endure,” the school said in a statement. “These young men and their families have been the subject of intense scrutiny that has taken a heavy toll.”
The allegations were debunked in April by state prosecutors, who said the players were the innocent victims of a “tragic rush to accuse” by Durham County District Attorney Mike Nifong. He was disbarred Saturday for breaking more than two dozen rules of professional conduct in his handling of the case.
The players’ families racked up millions of dollars of legal bills in their defense, and appear likely to file a lawsuit against Nifong.
Meanwhile, a judge said he would order Nifong to leave his duties immediately after he was disbarred for his misconduct in the case. Nifong had announced earlier Monday he would leave July 13. But that wasn’t soon enough for Superior Court Judge Orlando Hudson, who said he would order the sheriff today to prevent Nifong from carrying out any duties of the district attorney.
