Nifong goes to jail; players sue.

[Coriolis]

RALEIGH, North Carolina (AP) -- The disgraced prosecutor who was convicted of criminal contempt of court for his botched prosecution of three falsely accused Duke lacrosse players reported to a North Carolina jail this morning.

Former Durham County D.A. Mike Nifong, who lost his job and his law license, received a one-day jail term.

Former Durham County District Attorney Mike Nifong, who lost his job and was disbarred over his handling of the case, began serving a 24-hour sentence.

Nifong declined to speak with reporters as he arrived at the jail. A small group of supporters accompanied Nifong with signs reading, "We believe in your integrity and goodness."

A handful of hecklers also met him at the jail. One woman shouted out: "Justice works!"

Durham County Sheriff Worth Hill said Nifong likely will have a cell to himself for safety reasons.

Meanwhile, the three cleared players are seeking a $30 million settlement and reforms in the legal process, a person close to the case said Friday. They players plan to file a lawsuit next week if their terms are not met, the source added.

Nifong won indictments against the three young men last year after a woman hired to strip at a lacrosse team party claimed she was raped. The charges were eventually thrown out by state prosecutors, who declared the players innocent victims of a "tragic rush to accuse."

Nifong was disbarred for more than two dozen violations of the state's rules of professional conduct. A judge also found him in contempt and sentenced him to a day in jail for lying to the court when he insisted he had given defense attorneys all results from critical DNA tests.

The players attorneys have proposed a settlement with the city of Durham that includes reforming the legal system.

If the terms aren't met, the attorneys will file a civil rights lawsuit early next month, the person close to the case said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the proposed settlement wasn't complete.

Durham's police department helped Nifong secure the indictments, and a special committee probing police handling of the case stopped working last month because the city's liability insurance provider warned that findings could provide material for civil lawsuits.

During a discussion Wednesday with Durham officials, players' attorneys Brendan Sullivan and Barry Scheck stressed that the money they are seeking in the settlement -- about $10 million each for David Evans, Collin Finnerty and Reade Seligmann over five years -- must be accompanied by legal reforms, the person said.

The attorneys are seeking the creation of ombudsman positions to review complaints of misconduct about North Carolina district attorneys, and they want Durham city officials to lead the lobbying for any legal changes that would require action by the state's General Assembly, the person said.

City Attorney Henry Blinder and City Manager Patrick Baker briefed elected officials on the settlement discussions Thursday, according to The Herald-Sun of Durham, which first reported on the settlement demands. It said the city has a $5 million liability insurance policy with a $500,000 deductible.

Oh how the mighty have fallen. Still, isn't one day a bit lenient?

[Coriolis]

Shit, fucked the tags. Could a mod fix em?

[Grand Admiral Thrawn]

Fixed.

[General Zod]

Oh how the mighty have fallen. Still, isn't one day a bit lenient?

Perhaps, but after this he'll almost certainly never work in the legal field again. His career has effectively been destroyed.

[Illuminatus Primus]

You expected a judge to be harsh on a member of the Lawyers' Club? He just ruined people's lives and commited an abortion of justice against the legal system to further his career. Its not like he's a black kid who was caught selling weed, okay?

[SCRawl]

You know, it can be argued that the prosecutor did these guys a big favour. Oh, sure, there was that period of a few years when they were pretty much considered to be rapist scum, but now that the prosecutor has been shown to have been completely out of his tree those accusations don't sound all that terrible. Now they're suing the DA's office, and they'll win millions. I wouldn't mind having my name dragged through the mud if I could be assured of legal absolution and a multi-million-dollar payday at the back end of it.

[Flagg]

You know, it can be argued that the prosecutor did these guys a big favour. Oh, sure, there was that period of a few years when they were pretty much considered to be rapist scum, but now that the prosecutor has been shown to have been completely out of his tree those accusations don't sound all that terrible. Now they're suing the DA's office, and they'll win millions. I wouldn't mind having my name dragged through the mud if I could be assured of legal absolution and a multi-million-dollar payday at the back end of it.

There are still people out there who think they are rapist scum. And the only reason they actually got vindication was because they had expensive attornies who managed to show how weak the case was and what a liar the accuser was. These kids aren't lucky because they're likely to be getting millions from this, they're lucky because they aren't poor and/or black and in prison for the next 20 years.

[Coriolis]

Fixed.

Thanks.

I wonder what Nifong would do after all this (job-wise). Obviously, he can't go back into law. Any speculation?

[Knife]

Fixed.

Thanks.

I wonder what Nifong would do after all this (job-wise). Obviously, he can't go back into law. Any speculation?

He'll write a book or something.

[SCRawl]

You know, it can be argued that the prosecutor did these guys a big favour. Oh, sure, there was that period of a few years when they were pretty much considered to be rapist scum, but now that the prosecutor has been shown to have been completely out of his tree those accusations don't sound all that terrible. Now they're suing the DA's office, and they'll win millions. I wouldn't mind having my name dragged through the mud if I could be assured of legal absolution and a multi-million-dollar payday at the back end of it.

There are still people out there who think they are rapist scum. And the only reason they actually got vindication was because they had expensive attornies who managed to show how weak the case was and what a liar the accuser was. These kids aren't lucky because they're likely to be getting millions from this, they're lucky because they aren't poor and/or black and in prison for the next 20 years.

I have to confess to having seen only the 60 Minutes version of the case, but it sure appeared as though this prosecutor was completely scapegoating these guys. That's certainly the angle they took, but if their facts were correct as presented then I don't know what the prosecutor was smoking.

In any case, my position stands: whether or not they did it, the prosecutor did them a hell of a favour by completely screwing the pooch. If they're guilty of rape, then they're doubly lucky -- they get off without going to prison and they get a few million bucks.

[Xisiqomelir]

I have to confess to having seen only the 60 Minutes version of the case, but it sure appeared as though this prosecutor was completely scapegoating these guys. That's certainly the angle they took, but if their facts were correct as presented then I don't know what the prosecutor was smoking.

Flashy wins build careers.

[Honorable Mention]

SCR: There was a time when the story first broke that general consensus was that they were spoiled, white, fratty athletes who were going to get their just deserve. The usual "innocent until proven guilty" sentiment was near chucked out the door and I'd say the media did a darn good job of helping paint that picture. Jemele Hill's editorial sums it up alright, even if she's usually off in everything else she writes.

And yeah, there's always the possibility that they are spoiled and what have you, but that was never what was on trial.

[RogueIce]

SCR: There was a time when the story first broke that general consensus was that they were spoiled, white, fratty athletes who were going to get their just deserve. The usual "innocent until proven guilty" sentiment was near chucked out the door and I'd say the media did a darn good job of helping paint that picture. Jemele Hill's editorial sums it up alright, even if she's usually off in everything else she writes.

And yeah, there's always the possibility that they are spoiled and what have you, but that was never what was on trial.

That's the thing with cases of rape, child molestation, sexual harrassment, and the like. Even if you're later proven totally innocent, the way it gets covered and the assumptions people tend to make have you wind up getting pegged for life as a guilty bastard. The accusation alone is apparently enough to force you to have to move away and possibly change your identity because of it (at least from anecdotal evidence I have come across).

The one advantage the Duke players may get is that the publicity sorrounding Nifong, and possibly the lawsuit as well, may be enough to reinforce in the (most) of the public's mind that yep, they are indeed innocent.