Charges Dropped on Duke Lacrosse Players

[Charla]

About time.

This case showed just how low the number of people in the US that understand the concept of "innocent untill proven guilty" really is.

I think most of the country (including me) was just sort of watching the case and not really making that kind of assumption. The people who were assuming guilt were probably in the minority, but because they make noise and the rest of us don't, it doesn't really matter.

As for the lawsuit, I think if the guy can get disbarred for something he can get sued for it. How much he settles for is another story.

[skurlover]

it could get very interesting if they turn around say "yeah we raped her, so what?"

Uh, the charges could get refiled then.

They could only get away with it if it had gone to trial and they were found innocent and then proclaimed that. "Double Jeopardy" law only applies if they stood trial for the charges once.

[Talus]

Well the other issue is did the university overreact by prematurely ending the men's lacrosse season due to the charges?

The potential IMO is:

1) Good ol' boys file in civil court against stripper
2) Stripper files countersuit in civil court
3) Good ol' boys file in civil court against university

[skurlover]

I'd like to see them sued, just because I think its a slimeball thing to do to invite strippers for a party.

Hmm, I'll assume you either:

1. Didn't go to college (at least not yet)
2. Didn't go to a "normal" college
3. ???
4. Have morals

But most people that have been though that stage have been to a party or club that involved strippers. Its kinda a right of passage for young males.

[Talus]

Skurlover writes

Hmm, I'll assume you either:

1. Didn't go to college (at least not yet)
2. Didn't go to a "normal" college
3. ??? PROFIT!
4. Have morals

I'm gonna go with morals on this one. Moral ambiguity never hurt anyone. Or did it?

[Keno]

Well the other issue is did the university overreact by prematurely ending the men's lacrosse season due to the charges?

The potential IMO is:

1) Good ol' boys file in civil court against stripper
2) Stripper files countersuit in civil court
3) Good ol' boys file in civil court against university

They won't file against the stripper, they have nothing to gain. Even if they do sue her and win, and let's say they are awarded 30 million dollars for damages sustained, they'll never get any of it. Well, they may get some, but in a civil suit, if you are awarded money for damages then the defendant must pay you out of their FUTURE income. She's a stripper, how much can she possibly make?

The thing they are most likely to do is sue the University. If they did, they have real grounds to get a bunch of money in a settlement because the University of Duke besically made deflammatory statements about the students by dismissing them. In this country you are innocent until proven guilty, and the University did not act in that manner.

[khain]

I'd like to see them sued, just because I think its a slimeball thing to do to invite strippers for a party.

Hmm, I'll assume you either:

1. Didn't go to college (at least not yet)
2. Didn't go to a "normal" college
3. ???
4. Have morals

But most people that have been though that stage have been to a party or club that involved strippers. Its kinda a right of passage for young males.

I party at local colleges, but I dont indulge in the liquor. I think that strippers are just trashy it makes me leave the party.

[skurlover]

Well the other issue is did the university overreact by prematurely ending the men's lacrosse season due to the charges?

The potential IMO is:

1) Good ol' boys file in civil court against stripper
2) Stripper files countersuit in civil court
3) Good ol' boys file in civil court against university

They won't file against the stripper, they have nothing to gain. Even if they do sue her and win, and let's say they are awarded 30 million dollars for damages sustained, they'll never get any of it. Well, they may get some, but in a civil suit, if you are awarded money for damages then the defendant must pay you out of their FUTURE income. She's a stripper, how much can she possibly make?

The thing they are most likely to do is sue the University. If they did, they have real grounds to get a bunch of money in a settlement because the University of Duke besically made deflammatory statements about the students by dismissing them. In this country you are innocent until proven guilty, and the University did not act in that manner.

However, like most Universities in the States (including Nebraska where I attended), there is a student code of ethics and even further, there is athletic code of conduct.

The University does have some background and legality to their claims that the party alone violated that agreement. Even though that behavior (party, not the "rape") is generally accepted, it would more than likely be against policy.

However, in this case, I don't think you will see Duke try to stand and fight too hard. There will probably be an out of court settlement before it ever reaches too far.

[Devek]

Is you rape a hooker could you be charged with theft?

[Xiona]

Is you rape a hooker could you be charged with theft?

I SWEAR OFFICER I WAS JUST BORROWING THAT PUSSY, I WAS GOING TO PAY FOR IT LATER!

[edgarfigaro]

They don't have grounds to sue Duke, student code is you get suspended if you are charged with a crime. They do have grounds against the professors that egged on the mobs and made the inflamatory remarks, but they probably won't attempt it because libel and slander are extremely hard to prove in court. The only person they're planning on targeting is Mike Nifong, but they'll wait until after the NC Bar is done with him.

I'd like to see them sued, just because I think its a slimeball thing to do to invite strippers for a party.

Sued for what? The stripper has no ground to stand on right now- no evidence of rape, no DNA implicating the players, her identifications would not be admissible in court, and she hasn't been able to tell her story the same way yet. Way to make a moral judgement- guess what, stripping is a legal thing in this country, and if they want to have a stripper at their party and pay for it, fine.

[Credos]

I'm happy these guys got off, it's fucked up how a rape charge can ruin your life literally, even if you didn't do it. They really need to institute a law that allows people to go back at the "victim" if they are truly innocent.

[Devek]

That would be nice if you could find a way to disprove something that can't be proved.

Most rape cases are total "he said she said" type things with no evidence at all and you can't prove anything in those type unless one side makes an omission.

[MikedeeFenrir]

I want them fired!

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/US/04/11/duke.emails/

Eileen Willet of Windsor Locks, Connecticut
Since CNN has been on top of the Imus story, I hope CNN will follow this one -- especially since Rev. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton were so quick to put these boys in jail. Let's make sure the boys get the apology they deserve from Rev. Jackson and Rev. Sharpton.

By all accounts this was not an isolated event and the university routinely turned a blind eye to what was going on. Shame on all of them.

John Smith of Troy, Nebraska
Minority leaders are calling for Imus to be fired over inappropriate comments related to women of color. Weren't these same minority leaders leading the charge against the Duke lacrosse players? Shouldn't they step down for something that is certainly more troubling: false legal cases?

Art Porto of Chicago, Illinois
Is it any wonder that racial divides in this country continue to abound? A nationally syndicated radio host makes a racially insensitive comment and CNN provides wall to wall coverage. Yet, three upper class white college students are wrongfully charged with the rape, kidnapping and other crimes against a black woman that could have exposed them to lengthy prison sentences and your network provides five minutes of legal analysis. I'm not sure what the agenda is that you are pushing but its disturbing to say the least.

Mary Durkin of Lawrence, Massachusetts
Will we be seeing Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson apologizing for their involvement in this case? Of course, they had nothing to do with it, but their quick rush to form a judgment caused a huge disservice to these fine young athletes! Because, aren't we all innocent until proven guilty? I'm not going to hold my breath to even hear them utter one sentence regarding this case. As usual, those two will go hide under a rock after today's news.

Beverly Prince of Foley, Alabama
I feel the whole thing was a big rush for the former prosecutor to make a name for himself. I also think it is appalling for Al Sharpton to be criticizing and wanting apologies from Don Imus, claiming he hurt the sporting events of this Rutgers team. (I am a former Rutgers student.) Has he ever apologized for what he did to the Duke lacrosse team? I doubt he ever did. Not only was their season ruined, but they have lost an opportunity for careers. Racism is also always thinking that one race always hates another!

[Charla]

Your avatar's pretty awesome by the way [/offtopic]

[Fhqwghads]

it's fucked up how a rape charge can ruin your life literally, even if you didn't do it.

And if someone did do it, their life should be ruined. A victim's life sure won't ever be the same.

[MikedeeFenrir]

it's fucked up how a rape charge can ruin your life literally, even if you didn't do it.

And if someone did do it, their life should be ruined. A victim's life sure won't ever be the same.

No no it's ok. Al Sharpton is going to pay for her education, cause it's the right thing to do.

[The Blackrose]

I want them fired!

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/US/04/11/duke.emails/

From that same link I caught this little gem:

Evelyn Dibben of Annapolis, Maryland
Perhaps these young men were not guilty of any crime, but they are far from innocent. If they choose to have a party, drink to excess (illegally?), hire women to strip and then have sex with these women, then they deserve to suffer the consequences -- even if these consequences involve false allegations. False allegations are only some of the consequences of drunken casual sex. It's about time that they learn this very hard lesson.

This email and this one alone should be some sort of testimony that people should learn the facts before opening their mouth even a fucking sliver.

[Norelco]

This email and this one alone should be some sort of testimony that people should learn the facts before opening their mouth even a fucking sliver.

She's probably retardedly old. Let's go find her and beat her up.

[The Blackrose]

This email and this one alone should be some sort of testimony that people should learn the facts before opening their mouth even a fucking sliver.

She's probably retardedly old. Let's go find her and beat her up.

Careful there, she might get angry we're on her lawn.