Arguments today in lacrosse coach's suit

No decision was made today after lawyers argued before the N.C. Court of Appeals in a slander case brought on by fired lacrosse coach Mike Pressler against Duke University.

Justices will have to decide if a Superior Court judge was correct in previously ruling that Pressler had the right to sue Duke for slander after a former spokesman made comments about him.

Duke lawyers are appealing Superior Court Judge Howard Manning's decision that opened the door for Pressler to pursue his slander case.

Duke lawyers have argued that under employment agreements with Pressler the case should go to arbitration first.

"They were looking for a scapegoat and Mike Pressler was it," said Don Strickland, one of the two attorneys representing Pressler.

"It's clear it was a nasty situation," said John Simpson, a lawyer representing Duke, about Pressler and Duke University's relationship.

Pressler led the Duke lacrosse team in 2006 when an escort service dancer hired to perform at a party alleged she was raped by three players. Those allegations were later dismissed by the state attorney general.

Duke canceled the lacrosse season and fired Pressler from a job he had held for more than a 15 years.

Pressler and Duke reached a confidential settlement after his termination in 2007.

Pressler then filed suit against the university, alleging that John Burness, a former spokesman, made slanderous comments to the media, in violation of the settlement.

Pressler now coaches in Rhode Island.