RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A federal appeals court has overruled a previous dismissal concerning a lawsuit filed by a former North Carolina State University (N.C. State) athlete. The suit alleges sexual abuse by Robert Murphy Jr., the former director of sports medicine for the Wolfpack. The abuse allegedly occurred under the guise of medical treatment, bringing to light serious concerns regarding the actions of staff within the university's athletic department.
On Tuesday, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the district court's decision, which had dismissed this particular lawsuit in April 2023. The case involves a plaintiff known as "John Doe 2," who has detailed claims of improper touchings by Murphy. This lawsuit follows other similar claims made in August 2022 and February 2023, highlighting a troubling pattern of alleged misconduct within the program and raising questions about N.C. State’s oversight of its athletic staff.
The appellate decision sends the case back to the district court, where it will be re-evaluated. The previous dismissal had ruled that N.C. State did not have "actual notice" of the abuse alleged in all three lawsuits. However, the first lawsuit indicated that Kelly Findley, the former men’s soccer coach, had alerted a senior athletic official in February 2016 about his suspicions regarding Murphy's behavior. He believed it exhibited signs consistent with "grooming behavior," a warning that seemingly did not result in any follow-up actions from the school.
In light of this context, the appeals court concluded that Findley's allegations should be classified as a formal notification. However, it also indicated that the lower court did not resolve whether the appropriate official was informed about the concerns raised by Findley. Thus, the appeals court has returned that inquiry back to the district court for further examination.
The implications of this ruling may have significant repercussions, not only for the named defendant, Robert Murphy, who remains at the center of these allegations, but also for N.C. State, as the lawsuit could potentially expose systemic issues within its athletic program regarding the handling of allegations of sexual misconduct. Alongside Murphy, Benjamin Locke, a former soccer player, has continued to pursue his case with Murphy included as a defendant. The Associated Press typically refrains from disclosing the identities of sexual assault and abuse victims unless they have made their stories public, a category that Locke fits as he has openly shared his experiences.
The ongoing legal battles signal a critical moment for N.C. State as it grapples with serious allegations against individuals associated with its athletic program. With the appeals court's latest ruling, the case will now advance towards further judicial scrutiny, posing important questions about the institution's responsibility in protecting its athletes and the actions taken in response to claims of abuse.
