Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl
Two men who say they were sexually abused by a former assistant basketball coach at Syracuse University have sued the school and head basketball coach Jim Boeheim for defamation.
Bobby Davis and Mike Lang accused Syracuse associate head basketball coach Bernie Fine of molesting them during the 1980s and ’90s. They made the accusations in interviews with “Outside The Lines” in November.
When the first “OTL” story was broadcast and published, Boeheim called the accusers “liars” who were looking for money.
“You know how much money is going to be involved in civil suits?” Boeheim said. “I’d say about $50 million. That’s what this is about. Money.”
Attorney Gloria Allred said at a news conference Tuesday afternoon in New York City that the two men have filed a lawsuit in New York State Supreme Court. Davis previously maintained that he is not looking to sue Fine.
Among Allred’s recent clients is a woman who accused presidential candidate Herman Cain of making unwelcome sexual advances.
Davis was a ball boy for the team in the 1980s. Lang is his stepbrother. Fine since has been fired.
The U.S. attorney’s office is investigating the case in Syracuse.
Also Tuesday, a third man who accused Fine of molestation said he fully expects to go to prison for sexually abusing a boy in Maine.
Zachary Tomasell, of Lewiston, Maine, wrote on Facebook that he’s looking to “find strength to get through this” as plea negotiations continue. He’s already admitted that most of the accusations are true and says he takes responsibility for “the hell I put this teen through.”
Syracuse’s school newspaper, The Daily Orange, quoted Tomaselli as saying he expects to spend two years behind bars.
Tomaselli is now under a gag order. His remarks to the newspaper and on Facebook were made before it went into effect.
A message was left Tuesday for Tomaselli’s lawyer.
–ESPN