Duke Lacrosse Players Slap Ex-DA, City With Suit

Three former Duke lacrosse players cleared of rape charges after the prosecution's case imploded are suing disgraced former DA Mike Nifong and employees of Durham, NC, in federal court. The three seek unspecified damages, remuneration for legal fees and reforms to Durham's investigative procedures, the AP reports. A spokeswoman said Durham would defend its employees but not Nifong, now disbarred.

A civil-rights attorney defending one of the three said money was beside the point: "This is about sending a message to public officials who only get the message when they have to pay the money." The suit names Nifong and 13 other defendants, including the former police chief and the director of the DNA testing service used in the case. (More Duke lacrosse stories.)