Posted on 02/06/2004 2:44:04 PM PST by Jaded
Judge Tosses Most of Baylor Death Lawsuit 1 hour, 15 minutes ago
By ANGELA K. BROWN, Associated Press Writer
WACO, Texas - A judge on Friday threw out most of the wrongful-death lawsuit filed against Baylor by the father of slain basketball player Patrick Dennehy Jr.
Patrick Dennehy Sr. sought unspecified damages in his lawsuit, which claims that his son became the target of "violent threats" because he intended to expose wrongdoing in the basketball program.
Judge Ralph Strother said the university could not have foreseen the slaying of the 21-year-old Dennehy, whose body was found in a field near the Waco campus last year. He had been shot. Former teammate Carlton Dotson, 21, was charged with murder and has pleaded innocent.
Six of the lawsuit's seven claims were thrown out, including allegations of wrongful death and gross negligence. Strother said he would give the plaintiff's attorneys two weeks to provide more evidence on the remaining claim, which accuses Baylor and the other defendants of "intentionally, knowingly or recklessly" causing Dennehy's death.
"How in the world could a university either control, supervise or discipline an adult student off-campus? Where would that duty end?" said Wayne Fisher, an attorney for Baylor.
Richard Laminack, a lawyer for the elder Dennehy, has contended the athlete was killed by someone other than Dotson but has not elaborated.
The elder Dennehy said a group of Baylor basketball players and students threatened and intimidated the younger Dennehy to try to stop him from reporting NCAA (news - web sites) violations.
What does this say of the lawyer? A young black man is WRONGFULLY accused of murder!!! (*snicker*)
Do you think he danced around the courtroom chanting "I know something you dont know... I know something you dont know..."
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