Former Duke lacrosse coach sues school

DURHAM, N.C., Oct. 13 (UPI) -- Former Duke lacrosse coach Mike Pressler, fired amid last year’s unfounded rape allegations against several team players, now is suing the school.

The case gained national media attention when a dancer claimed she was raped by members of the team during an off-campus party.

The players denied the allegations, and after an investigation, Durham County (N.C.) District Attorney Mike Nifong apologized and later was disbarred when he admitted the men accused should not have been arrested.

The charges against Reade Seligman, Dave Evans and Colin Finnerty were dropped, and they were cleared after spending months under indictment.

"Mr. Pressler, aided by his attorney, reached a fair and final financial agreement with Duke University in the spring of 2007," Pamela Bernard, the school's vice president and general counsel, said in a statement to The (Raleigh) News & Observer.

"We are disappointed that he is now trying to undo that agreement with an unfounded claim."