Second former NC State athlete sues school alleging sexual abuse

A former NC State student athlete has sued the school and alleged he was sexually abused by the school’s former director of sports medicine, according to the AP. It’s the second such lawsuit against the university.

The athlete, known as “John Doe” to protect his anonymity, alleged Robert Murphy Jr. improperly touched him between two separate occasions, the AP’s Aaron Beard wrote. In the lawsuit, the athlete alleged the school failed a “duty of reasonable care” to protect him. He also said the alleged abuse occurred while he thought he was receiving treatment.

The athlete’s lawyer, Kerry Sutton, released a statement saying she has spoken with four men who made “similar claims.”

“Ben Locke and John Doe suffered silently for years and hope their stories will inspire others to come forward,” Sutton said, via Beard’s report. “Locke and John Doe shine a spotlight on a dark corner in the NCSU athletics department that was presumed to be safe.”

NC State sent out a statement Wednesday, but didn’t specifically comment on the allegations. However, it said the school is reviewing the lawsuit.

“Sexual misconduct of any kind is completely unacceptable and contrary to the culture and standards of the athletic department and the university,” the school said, via the AP.

The first lawsuit came in August when former NC State soccer player Benjamin Locke alleged Murphy improperly touched him during about 75-100 massages between August 2015 and May 2017. Locke said he believed those massages lacked “legitimate” medical necessity. He also alleged former coach Kelly Finley told an athletic department official Murphy had engaged “in contact … consistent with ‘grooming behavior,’ but the university never followed up with any action.

Locke’s allegations sparked a Title IX investigation and led the school to put Murphy on administrative leave in January 2022. A statement from Locke said Murphy didn’t work at the school anymore due to an “involuntary separation.”