38-player lacrosse suit gets fanfare

The group's action against Duke is laid out in the nation's capital with major exposure

WASHINGTON -- The latest Duke lacrosse suit got off to a big start Thursday with publicists, lawyers of national renown, a media blitz at the National Press Club and a lawsuit with its own Web site.

The 38 members of the 2006 Duke lacrosse team who filed the suit in federal court say their reputations were damaged by their association to an escort service dancer's phony gang-rape allegations.

The players chose not to appear at the news conference, said Bob Bork Jr., the group's hired publicist, because they don't want to attract attention.

The suit contends the players suffered emotional distress and other injuries when the university remained silent about evidence that early on contradicted the allegations of Crystal Gail Mangum, an escort service dancer hired to perform at the team's now-infamous March 2006 party.

No player listed in the suit was charged in the case, but the players' attorney, Chuck Cooper, said they nonetheless had been through "a horrifying personal nightmare."

The event was at the National Press Building in downtown Washington, a block from the White House.

"This is kind of a media center," said Bork, son of the Supreme Court nominee rejected during the Reagan years. "And Durham isn't. Sorry."

Cooper, who has connections to the late Chief Justice William Rehnquist and President Reagan, issued what amounted to an opening argument.

He described team critics and protesters as an "angry mob," and said the players were "reviled almost daily in the local and national press." For this, he said, the players suffered "grievous, lasting injuries."

The players, Cooper said, sued reluctantly. "To hold Duke accountable," he said.

Steven W. Henkelman, a Philadelphia architect and father of player Erik Henkelman, spoke about the spring of 2006.

Henkelman said his son was forced to move out of his Durham home for fear of retribution, then was devastated when Duke President Richard Brodhead canceled the 2006 season.

Henkelman said Duke administrators turned against the team. "They were willing to sacrifice a few -- our sons -- for the good of the administration," he said.

During the news conference, Duke sent out the first of two releases Thursday.

In each, Pamela Bernard, Duke's general counsel, disclosed that the university had offered to cover legal fees and other costs incurred by the players during the prosecution of former Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong.

"Their legal strategy -- attacking Duke -- is misdirected and without merit," Bernard said.

The second statement in late afternoon said: "We have now seen the lawsuit and as we said before, if these plaintiffs have a complaint, it is with Mr. Nifong."

In all, the suit names 29 defendants. They include the university, Brodhead and more than a dozen Duke officials; the city of Durham, city manager and various police officers.

Nifong is not a defendant, Cooper said, because he has filed for bankruptcy and is offered protection by federal law. However, the suit condemns Nifong's handling of the case.

Cooper was asked about the players' conduct at the party with two escort service dancers and underage drinking.

Cooper said the team had been "severely punished" and players had expressed their shame.

Only three members of the 2006 team have not filed suit -- Matt Zash, a former captain; Matt Danowski, the current coach's son, and Kevin Mayer.

The three players charged and later cleared in the case sued the city, Nifong and others five months ago.