Three more previous N’western players file claims

Adam Rittenberg, ESPN

• Senior WriterMay 8, 2024, 11:20 PM ET Close College football reporter.
• Signed up with ESPN.com in 2008.
• Graduate of Northwestern University.Three previous Northwestern players have submitted claims against the school and previous coach Pat Fitzgerald, alleging hazing and mistreatment within the football program, consisting of the initial whistleblower who stimulated an examination into the claims.Former linebacker Nathan Fox, who played for Northwestern from 2015 to 2019, and two men determined as John Doe submitted the suits in Cook County circuit court today. Both Fox and the whistleblower, recognized as John Doe 22, talked to lawyer Maggie Hickey, whom Northwestern worked with to investigate John Doe 22’s allegations after they were very first brought forward in late 2022. Hickey’s investigation found that the player’s hazing allegations might mostly be supported but that there was no proof Fitzgerald and other coaches and team member understood the incidents. After Hickey’s examination concluded, Northwestern suspended Fitzgerald for 2 weeks without pay. The whistleblower then went public with his allegations in the Daily Northwestern school newspaper, and Northwestern president Michael Schill fired Fitzgerald two days later.Fitzgerald in October filed a$130 million wrongful termination suit versus Schill and the school. His case is set for trial in 2025. A total of 25 former players have actually submitted claims against Northwestern, declaring hazing and other mistreatment.Editor’s Picks 1 Related Fox’s claim details a lot of the hazing accusations from previous filings, consisting of

” running

“and other sexualized acts, much of which apparently took place throughout the team’s preseason training camp in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He said he reported his experiences to six Northwestern employee, consisting of a therapist in 2018 who had him sign an agreement permitting her to share his claims with the athletic training staff. Fox stated that quickly after, Fitzgerald chastised him in a group meeting for suffering unreasonable treatment. Fox stated an athletic trainer also called him out.The claim likewise mentions another Northwestern psychologist, upon hearing of Fox’s hazing allegations, told him they weren’t genuine and originated from a diagnosis of bipolar affective disorder that Fox has actually never ever received. Fox said the psychologist recommended him medication that led to him pondering suicide.According to the suit, he did not report the claims straight to the training personnel due to the fact that of worry of retaliation, and went to Hickey upon learning of the hazing investigation into Northwestern football.The complainants are looking for damages in excess of$50,000. Northwestern is not talking about pending litigation versus the school.”It is abundantly clear to us that many team member knew about the violent sexual hazing and psychological abuse that was taking place under Northwestern’s watch,” lawyer Margaret Battersby Black, whose company is representing numerous plaintiffs, said in a statement.

“Workers were told about the abusive hazing by some of the players including Nathan Fox, who brought the abuse to their attention years before the Maggie Hickey examination. Rather of doing the best thing and reporting the abuse or taking steps to stop it, those who knew either ignored it or struck back versus those who stepped forward.” More lawsuits from former players are expected to be submitted versus Northwestern in the coming days.