Durham, N.C. — Attorneys for three former Duke University lacrosse players arrested and charged on false accusations of rape want the federal district court to side with a bankruptcy judge's decision that a civil rights lawsuit against Mike Nifong be able to move ahead.
The former Durham district attorney filed for bankruptcy earlier this year in response to David Evans, Collin Finnerty and Reade Seligmann's claims that he, the city of Durham and others conspired to keep a weak case alive as Nifong faced election.
The bankruptcy filing meant Nifong was temporarily protected from litigation. Judge William L. Stocks ruled in May, however, the lawsuit could proceed.
Nifong filed for an appeal in June.
"Nifong admits that his bankruptcy filing was not an attempt to work out debts with creditors but a tactic to short-circuit the District Court action and obtain a discharge that would free him to avoid responsibility for his alleged wrongdoing," a motion filed on Monday in U.S. District Court states.
In his January 15 bankruptcy filing, Nifong listed a debt of $180.3 million, listing the Evans, Finnerty and Seligmann as unsecured creditors, each owed $30 million.
Nifong won indictments against the three players in Spring 2006 following exotic dancer Crystal Mangum's accusations that she was raped and sexually assaulted at a lacrosse party in March 2006.
Amid ethics charges and growing criticism of his handling of the case, Nifong asked the state attorney general's office in January 2007 to appoint a special prosecutor to the case.
Three months later, Attorney General Roy Cooper dismissed all charges against the players and declared them innocent victims of a prosecutor's rush to accuse.
The North Carolina State Bar later stripped Nifong of his law license, and he spent a night in jail for lying to a Superior Court judge.
Attorneys respond to Nifong's bankruptcy appeal
Copyright 2009 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
5 Comments
-
- Christmas parade marks start of holidays
Updated Nov. 21 11:31 p.m. | Slideshow |
- Wake County holds flu vaccine clinics for children
Updated Nov. 21 11:43 p.m. |
- Bill would require DNA sample from N.C. suspects
Updated Nov. 21 4:48 p.m. - Damage to Old Chapel Hill Cemetery sparks preservation effort
Updated Nov. 21 4:48 p.m. - N.C. man gets life in prison for woman's fatal scare
Updated Nov. 21 11:38 p.m.
- Christmas parade marks start of holidays
- Most Viewed Slideshows
- 2009 Raleigh Christmas Parade crowd
Posted Nov. 21 2:41 p.m. - 2009 WRAL-TV Raleigh Christmas Parade
Updated Nov. 21 6:16 p.m. - Pet Photos | November 16 - November 22, 2009
Nov. 20, 2009
- 2009 Raleigh Christmas Parade crowd
Photo Spotlight
-
Bands, marchers in holiday paradeChoose your group to watch their performance in the 2009 WRAL-TV Raleigh Christmas Parade.
-
Web only: Complete 2009 WRAL-TV Raleigh Christmas ParadeWatch the parade in its entirety from the comfort of your computer any time.
-
Search for missing IRS refundsThe Internal Revenue Service released the names this week of more than 100,000 taxpayers who have not received their 2009 income tax refund.
-
North Carolina unemployment ratesView an interactive map with county unemployment numbers.
-
A year of N.C. Drought MapsView a time lapse animation of drought conditions during the last year.











STORIES
VIDEOS
SLIDESHOWS


Welcome to GOLO, where WRAL.com visitors can comment on stories and create profile pages, blogs and photo galleries.
You must be a registered WRAL.com user to use these tools. Click here to register or log in.