THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, April 27, 1996 TAG: 9604270511
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: ROANOKE LENGTH: Short : 26 lines
The Justice Department on Friday filed court documents defending a federal law being used by a former Virginia Tech student to sue the university and the football players who she alleges raped her.
The players have asked U.S. District Judge Jackson Kiser to dismiss the lawsuit because the law is unconstitutional. A hearing on the motion is scheduled for Wednesday.
The Violence Against Women Act adopted in 1994 lets victims of sex-based crimes recover damages in federal court. The law mirrors federal remedies against racially motivated violence and discrimination.
Christy Brzonkala alleges that Tony Morrison and fellow freshman recruit James Crawford raped her in September 1994 while player Cornell Brown watched. No criminal charges were filed. In a civil suit she is seeking $10 million from Morrison and unspecified damages against the other players and Virginia Tech. by CNB