Laurie Fine, the wife of former Syracuse assistant basketball coach Bernie Fine, announced Wednesday in Geneva, N.Y., her intention to file a lawsuit in federal court against ESPN and two of its employees, saying she was libeled during the network’s reporting of child sex abuse allegations against her husband.
“Today, through my attorneys, I have taken the first steps toward restoring my good name,” she said. “The lawsuit I file in federal court says it all. I have never engaged in and condoned despicable conduct falsely reported by ESPN.”
Bernie Fine has been accused by two former ball boys — Bobby Davis and Mike Lang — of molesting them during a period of more than 10 years, allegations first reported by ESPN’s “Outside The Lines” in November 2011.
Syracuse police and federal authorities have been investigating the allegations, but no charges have been filed. Bernie Fine, who was fired Nov. 27 by Syracuse, has denied the allegations.
The lawsuit alleges ESPN falsely portrayed Laurie Fine as having knowledge of abuse of Davis by her husband, and that ESPN doctored a recording of a conversation between Davis and Laurie Fine.
In a statement, an ESPN spokesman said: “The suit is without merit and we stand by our reporting.”
Laurie Fine’s lawyer, Lawrence Fisher of Pittsburgh, repeatedly declined to answer specific questions and said he was discussing the complaint with ESPN. He has not yet filed the complaint.
–ESPN
