New Mexico State to pay $8M in hazing lawsuit
Jun 28, 2023, 05:16 PM ET
New Mexico State consented to pay $8 million to settle a claim including two basketball players who said they were sexually attacked by teammates.Terms of the settlement were released on the state’s open-records website Wednesday. Deuce Benjamin and his daddy, William, who was a co-defendant, will receive$ 4.125 million, while the other complainant, Shak Odunewu, will get $3.875 million.In agreeing
to the settlement, the New Mexico State board of regents does not admit liability. The funds will come from a state risk-management insurance coverage and is not anticipated to straight affect the school’s yearly budget.Editor’s Picks
2 Associated Benjamin’s
lawyer informed The Associated Press the settlement was made in part to keep the players from having to relive their experience over what might have been a years-long legal procedure.”To New Mexico State’s credit, they took the lawsuit really seriously, “Joleen Youngers said.”They undoubtedly acknowledged that our customers had actually been damaged. “Youngers said both players hoped to continue their basketball professions at other schools, however no strong plan was in place.”I understand there’s a powerful love for the game, but I know it’s taken a toll on them
,” she said.In addition to the regents, 2 coaches and 3 players were also launched from liability in the lawsuit.
The state attorney general of the United States’s workplace is checking out possible criminal charges in the case.In their suit, Benjamin and Odunewu explained being joined forces against and assaulted on more than one occasion. Odunewu said one time, after seeing Benjamin being assaulted, he asked a coach to do something, and the coach responded by chuckling and asking” What do you desire me to do about it?” Benjamin went to campus authorities after one of the attacks, which caused the abrupt cancellation of the 2022-23 season and the shooting of coach Greg Heiar.In a press conference to discuss the
lawsuit in Might, Benjamin and his father, a previous Aggies star basketball player, stated Heiar’s replacement, Jason Hooten, suggested to Benjamin that he discover a brand-new school.”I don’t believe you’re supposed to strike the reset button and swelling in victims with everybody you’re getting rid of, “William Benjamin said.”Deuce was going to be an Aggie if he was good enough.
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