A former University of Memphis football player claimed the school's handling of rape accusations lodged against him branded him as a rapist and cost him his chance at the NFL.
Suttles' lawsuit also alleged that his Fourteenth Amendment right to due process was violated in the wake of"Jane Roe's" rape accusation. "These restrictions have had a devastating effect on the Plaintiff; first the press release of the University of Memphis was rebroadcast around the country, effectively branding the Plaintiff [as] a rapist," the lawsuit stated, adding that after the accusation was published, he stopped receiving interest in potential bowl invitations and other activities that could have led to an NFL career.
Suttles denied he raped Roe and said his roommate, Christian Johnson, witnessed the alleged event. However, according to the lawsuit, the school never contacted Johnson, and has yet to complete the investigation, despite a policy that stated it would make"every reasonable effort" to resolve claims within 60 days.reached out to the University of Memphis but did not receive a response in time for publication.