A U.S. District Court Judge has made a ruling following a lawsuit involving University of Mississippi head coach Lane Kiffin, per ESPN’s Chris Low.
Kiffin was taken to task by defensive lineman DeSanto Rollins after kicking the player off the team, with Rollins accusing him of discrimination due to a dismissal prompted by several missed meetings.
The player, who cited a “mental health crisis” did not respond to Kiffin’s request for an audience for around two weeks but was seeking $10 million in compensatory damages and another $30 million in punitive damages.
The suit has been dismissed by Judge Michael P. Mills. Rollins, who is still listed on Ole Miss’ official roster, has since appealed the ruling to the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
He claims Ole Miss did not take the same action against white or female students who requested mental health breaks.
The suit claims Kiffin “maliciously, deliberately, intentionally, and in blatant disregard for the rights and health of Rollins verbally assaulted him.”
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Rollins subsequently recorded a conversation with the coach that leaked online several weeks ago.
“You’re done. See ya. Go. And guess what? We can kick you off the team,” Kiffin was heard saying. “So go read your F -ing rights about mental health. We can kick you off the team for not showing up.”
“Although Kiffin’s conduct in the meetings was certainly offensive and imprudent, it is more akin to immature insults and indignities than to behavior going ‘beyond all possible bounds of decency,'” Mills wrote in his ruling.
