Maybe Durham residents shouldn't have elected Nifong after those first April '06 DNA results came back showing the case was bogus. Anyway, the definitive book on the case, UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT, is out. Even ACLU president Nadine Strassen praises it as showing when "..unscrupulous police and prosecutors wreck the lives of innocent people.." and the system's "..crying need for reforms.." This case is famous for good reason. An ounce of prevention would have been worth a pound of cure in Durham.

"As a Durham citizen, I don't want to see my taxes poured down a rathole for the actions of a now disbarred DA, which is after all a state office."

As a Durham citizen, I'd like to know the truth. Nifong didn't do this alone. The only witnesses that testified before two grand juries that resulted in the indictment of 3 innocent people for crimes that never happened were... 2 Durham police officers (Himan and Gottlieb). Cpl David Addison made numerous outrageous (and false) statements to the media... not about an alleged crime but of a horrendous rape that sent shockwaves through the community and that there was really really strong evidence in the case. One of the lead investigators, Sgt Gottlieb, evidently took no contemporaneous notes (other than 3 pages describing his search for a drug testing facility). Nearly 4 months later Gottlieb typed up a "supplemental case report" consisting of 33 typewritten pages of "investigative notes". His 'straight from memory' notes contradict other officers' contemporaneous notes as well as physical and medical evidence -- all of the contradictions tended to help (not hurt) Nifong's case". Oh, then there's the 4/4 "lineup" that violated the NC Innocent Commission guidelines as well as DPD's own policies. Two police officers (again Himan and Gottlieb) were at that 4/10 meeing with the DNA expert when they learned of multiple male non-lacrosse DNA was found on the panties, pubic comb, vaginal and rectal swabs of the accuser -- but there are no officer notes from that meeting (or the subseqent 4/21 and 5/12 meetings with DNASI). Around the end of March, DPD released the contents of the 9-1-1 call made at 12:53 the morning of the alleged attack....DPD appealed for the caller to come forward (strongly implying that not only was there an assault inside 610 N Buchanan but also a verbal assault against 2 other women outside the house). Only problem ... Kim Roberts had previously informed DPD on two occasions that she had made that call. Tapes of police radio communications from 3/13 and 3/14 that were requested by the defense -- were destroyed.

I'd say the falsely accused as well as the rest of the team may have quite a case against the city of Durham....just my opinion.

"What has bothered me most about the Nifong case is how quickly the defense lawyers brought all of the power of the national media to bear on the case so that it never got sorted out by twelve folks from Durham. Now it is the vindictiveness of the civil case and its derailing of an investigation that is striking me."

If I remember correctly, it was multitudes of statements made by Nifong and the PD that brought the national media to bear on this case. The defense would have failed in their ethical responsibilities to their clients had they NOT responded. I think it's ethics rule 3.6 that applies here ....

Do you really believe that all rape claims should go to a jury? Do you really believe that this case should have gone to a jury? Are you male or do you have a son or brother?

As much as I hate to think what civil settlements will do to our taxes -- I don't take them as vindictive. I believe the families of the falsely accused want to try to prevent others from living the hell they lived for the past 1.5 years - or worse.

"Could it be that the point is not to get justice but to ensure that rich white jocks at prestigious colleges get legal immunity?"

Or could it be that these families and their lawyers have come to believe that Durham isn't able to self correct? City council recommended the investigative committee back in May.... it's now September and the committee has met once.... Could the families have come to believe, perhaps, the investigation was going no where, fast?

I don't think this will be the end of the civil lawsuits -- then theres the possibility of criminal charges.... I think it'll be a really long time before you stop hearing Nifong stories... or paying for Nifong stories.

"Couldn't agree more. It's just more media obsession with the trials and tribulations of rich white children."

The media rushed to judgement in this case. The accused were called 'rich white racist jocks' and 'rapists' -- while the accuser was the soft spoken mother of two, dancing to put herself through college and served in the military. For months! The media literally fell all over each other to report this crime perpetrated by these 'rich white jocks'... then, when the case fell apart and the evidence didn't support the narrative -- the story changed.... they still weren't "choir boys" after all they drank and hired strippers... hardly unusual for college-aged females or males. Look out -- your narrative is showing.

Everyone seems to be forgetting the victim of this tragedy. Because the unfair and racist focus on Nifong, this poor innocent, struggling student and mother is forgotten and raped by rich white boys.

I trust once we get a Democratic president, there will be a federal investigation of what happened here. I know something bad happened, I know it was rich white boys who did it, I know Crystal is the innocent victim and we must have justice.