Former director of player development Eric Murdock, who made the video of coach Mike Rice physically abusing Rutgers men's basketball players, has filed a lawsuit against his former employers.
According to NBC New York, Murdock said he wrote to Rutgers officials in July about Rice's physically and verbally abusive behavior, and in November, gave the university the video showing the former head men's basketball coach pushing, hitting, and throwing basketballs at players while he upbraided them with foul language and gay slurs.
"Despite their obligations under New Jersey law and the university's own policy, neither the presidents of the university, the athletic director nor any other university representatives took any steps to assure that the rights of the student-athlete members of the men's basketball program were protected from assault (both physical and verbal), battery, harassment, intimidation, bullying, defamation and other unlawful conduct," the lawsuit states.
Murdock filed the lawsuit Friday in New Jersey state court, which claims Rutgers University ignored his warnings and wrongfully removed him from his position. Rutgers president Robert Barchi, former president Richard McCormick, and ex-athletic director Tim Pernetti were also named as defendants in the lawsuit, along with Mike Rice.
[Video Excerpt Below]
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages along with legal costs. But it also asks for the court to order Rutgers to take steps to put a stop to harassment and bullying on their campus. Additionally, the suit asks the court to order further investigation into the bullying incident.
According to The NY Daily News, Murdock and his lawyers elaborated on the suit in a press conference outside of court on Friday afternoon.
"Efforts to get Rutgers to address their problems were ignored for months," said Murdock. "Instead, I was removed from my position. That is wrong and why I filed a lawsuit." Murdock's lawyer, Barry Kozyra, said that Murdock has struggled since the incident. "It's been very tough on him. It's been nine months. His life hasn't moved on as a result of this. It's not been easy, that's for sure."
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