U. of Louisville students can't sue because school's BB team was provided with prostitutes

Five Members of the 2013 Louisville men's basketball staff are suing the NCAA, stating they've been held at"false light," a civil claim much like defamation, following the group was stripped of its own national championship in the wake of a scandal involving an assistant trainer who hired strippers to amuse Louisville recruits.Show more

The Lawsuit claims in stripping Louisville of its own championship, the NCAA"implied that the Plaintiffs engaged in lewd and lascivious behavior, that the Plaintiffs received improper benefits, that the Plaintiffs competed while ineligible and the Plaintiffs are not champions." The lawsuit seeks a declaration that the gamers"are completely innocent of any wrongdoing as implied by the NCAA" and the awards and championships won throughout the 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons stay undamaged.

According To the lawsuit, the gamers farther search"damages for loss of economic opportunity" that led from the NCAA's punishments from the program.

Stacey Osburn, the NCAA's director of media and public relations, stated,"We have not yet been served and so do not have a comment."

Of The five players named in the lawsuit -- Luke Hancock, Gorgui Dieng, Stephan Van Treese, Tim Henderson and Michael Marra -- just Hancock was present at Wednesday's news conference here in the Galt House Hotel.

Hancock, a financial advisor, voiced his frustration that his reputation was ruined by the NCAA's actions.

"It's Been five years, and I can't tell you two days where I've gone without having someone coming to me to ask me if I had strippers or prostitutes in the dorm," he explained.

Hancock Was called the most outstanding player of this 2013 Final Four, along with the lawsuit claims the NCAA"implied to the public (and still to this date has failed to clarify to the public) that Plaintiff Hancock had his MOP award vacated due to Plaintiff Hancock's implied actions." The lawsuit seeks announcement that Hancock keeps his award.

Back in June 2017, that the NCAA Committee on Infractions panel published a report confirming That manager of basketball operations Andre McGee ordered within an aide dormitory for three players at least seven of whom were underage -- a buddy of a single potential and two trainers not linked to the school. The report mentioned coach Rick Pitino because of his failure to track his assistant's functions, along with the NCAA suspended Pitino for five matches.

The faculty appealed, but last February, the NCAA Infractions Appeals Committee maintained the punishments, making Louisville the initial program in contemporary NCAA history to vacate a national tournament.

Pitino was terminated in September 2017 at the Aftermath of unrelated offenses An executive in Adidas, that sees the Cardinals' athletic teams, and others conspired to steer top recruits to Louisville.

The players in the lawsuit are represented by John Morgan, an attorney based in Orlando whose firm, Morgan & Morgan, practices in Kentucky, where the suit has been filed. Morgan, a self-described"giant killer," spoke at length Wednesday to recast the scandals that have roiled Louisville athletics for years into an attack on the integrity of the NCAA, which Morgan repeatedly called"tainted" and"morally bankrupt" and responsible for"manipulation of teens to get money."

When Asked about sentiment among Louisville fans that this chapter of the program's history be left in the past, Hancock suggested:"They ought to turn off the TV off. They do not need to live with it daily."

In a statement, Vince Tyra, Louisville vice president and director of Athletics, said,"We know that the temptations and empathize with all our former student-athletes. These guys expended a Fantastic deal of Work And came together to reach something and special. Our college the Holiday of documents participated the nation appeals and penalty Lawyer in our defense. While we do and were ineffective Not agree with the conclusion, we're obligated now for a member Of the NCAA to abide by the judgment and have complied so."