North Carolina Landmark Legal Settlements
North Carolina migrant farm workers win landmark victory with FLOC
In 2006 more than 15,000 migrant Mexican farm workers in North Carolina won a landmark settlement with the North Carolina Growers Association.
Under the settlement, the guest workers from Mexico were no longer forced to endure illegal wage deductions or pay exorbitant transportation costs to work in the fields of North Carolina.
The agreement created a settlement fund of $1.475 million to compensate temporary agricultural workers for the illegal wage deductions they suffered under state and federal law. It also ensures that growers pay recruiting, visa, border crossing and transportation fees in Mexico or the U.S.
UNC coach settles sex harassment suit
In 2008 the University of North Carolina settled a sexual harassment lawsuit brought by a former UNC soccer player who alleged that her coach had inappropriate discussions about sex with his team’s players. Melissa Jennings, a former UNC soccer player, brought the sexual harassment lawsuit against UNC women's soccer coach Anson Dorrance.
As part of a settlement reached, the school agreed to resolve the dispute with a $385,000 payout to Jennings. Additionally, Dorrance issued an apology to all his players.
Duke, Lacrosse players reach settlement
In 2007 Duke University reached an undisclosed financial settlement with three former lacrosse players falsely accused of rape.
Duke suspended the players after they were charged with raping a stripper at an off-campus party. The university also canceled the team's season and forced their coach to resign.
The allegations were debunked in April by state prosecutors, who said the players were the innocent victims of a "tragic rush to accuse" by Durham County District Attorney Mike Nifong. The DA was disbarred for breaking more than two dozen rules of professional conduct in his handling of the case.
Copyright© 2012 LexisNexis. All rights reserved.