MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A former University of Memphisfootball player is suing the school over its handling of a rape allegation.
The federal lawsuit filed Monday by Ernest Suttles says theschool branded him as a rapist and cost him a possible NFL career. Courtrecords say the state dismissed the charge last month after finding it couldn’t“carry its burden of proofs.”
Suttles was accused of raping a long-term girlfriend in 2017just before the team was set to play the Liberty Bowl. The defensive linemanwas kicked off the team and suspended from campus.
The lawsuit says the school didn’t interview a potentialwitness or close a related complaint, which prevented him from appealing thesuspension and getting his financial aid restored. Suttles wants a jury trialand all records of the complaint destroyed.
