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Former lacrosse coach sues Duke
By AARON BEARD
Associated Press Writer

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. --Former Duke University men's lacrosse coach Mike Pressler, who resigned under the pressure of allegations that three of his players raped a stripper, has filed a lawsuit against the private Durham university, school officials said Friday.

The lawsuit apparently stems from a financial settlement the school reached earlier this year with Pressler, who was the only Duke official to lose a job as the result of a case that ended with the players vindicated as innocent victims of a rogue prosecutor.

"Mr. Pressler, aided by his attorney, reached a fair and final financial agreement with Duke University in the spring of 2007," Pamela Bernard, Duke's vice president and general counsel, said in a statement. "We are disappointed that he is now trying to undo that agreement with an unfounded claim against Duke.

"We will address the matter through the legal process and insist on honoring our existing agreement."

The Herald-Sun of Durham reported Friday night on its Web site that Pressler's lawsuit was filed in state court, alleging the university broke the terms of the confidential settlement when university senior vice president John Burness made disparaging comments about the former coach.

The suit said one of the comments was made April 9 in Newsday, when Burness said the difference between Pressler and current lacrosse coach John Danowski was "night and day." The second comment came in June, when Burness told The Associated Press "it was essential for the team to have a change of leadership in order to move forward."