An appeal relating to the 2006 lacrosse scandal was rejected for consideration by the United States Supreme Court Tuesday.
The case, brought by former players Ryan McFadyen, Matt Wilson and Breck Archer against the city of Durham, was reviewed by the Court last week. The plaintiffs appealed the decision on their federal civil rights claim from the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, which decided in December 2012 that law enforcement officials were not violating the players’ constitutional rights by taking DNA samples and examining them-—and all but one of the 2006 lacrosse team members—for evidence.
The Supreme Court released two sentences on the case, reading that the petition for a writ of certiorari was denied and that Justice Alito did not take part in the consideration or consideration of the case.
Alito is a visiting professor of law at the School of Law.
Attorneys from law firm Ekstrand & Ekstrand, who are representing the case, did not immediately respond to request for comment.
Beverly Thompson, director of public affairs for the city of Durham, released a statement expressing that the city is “extremely pleased” with the court’s refusal to hear the case.
“Given that this second suit was particularly lengthy, exaggerated and outrageous in its claims against City employees, the City had great confidence that the courts would see through the complaint to determine that there was no merit to the dozens of claims against the City and City officials,” the statement reads.
This case was one of many filed in the wake of accusations against three other 2006 lacrosse players—David Evans, Collin Finnerty and Reade Seligmann—of raping stripper, dancer and escort Crystal Magnum in 2006. The accusations were eventually proven false and all charges against the players were dismissed.
In early October, a case involving the three formerly accused players was similarly denied by the Supreme Court. Evans, Finnerty and Seligmann were also suing the city of Durham and its officials for mishandling investigation of the charges brought against them. This rejection by the Supreme Court left the plaintiffs able to continue pursuing claims at the state level, but not the federal one because their claims of a Fourth Amendment violation were already affirmed by the court.
A single claim now remains against the city due to the standing decision made by the Fourth Circuit on the McFadyen plaintiffs’ claims. Similarly to the Evans plaintiffs’ result, the appellate court ruled McFadyen’s Fourth Amendment claims valid and thus will not pursue them further.
However, the state-level claims that the players are making have not yet been ruled in their favor. The statement from Thompson referred to this remaining claim by emphasizing the city’s position that no Durham officials took action that would render the McFadyen plaintiffs’ claims valid.
“We are very please with the Supreme Court’s decision today and look forward to a favorable final outcome for the City,” the statement said.
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