North Carolina Judge Dismisses NC State Athletes' Sexual Abuse Lawsuit
On Tuesday, June 9, 2026, Wake County Superior Court Judge Bryan Collins dismissed a lawsuit filed by 31 former NC State male athletes accusing ex-trainer Robert M. Murphy Jr. and school officials of sexual misconduct.[1]
Collins ruled that claims stretching back at least to 2013 were barred by North Carolina's three-year statute of limitations and dismissed claims against athletic officials on jurisdictional grounds.[1] The athletes alleged years of sexual misconduct during treatment and drug-testing procedures, and their attorney Kerry Sutton said they will appeal and seek to add men who recently came forward.[1]
Benjamin Locke, a former NC State men's soccer player, filed a police report in late 2021 or early 2022 that prompted NC State to open a Title IX investigation into Murphy in January 2022. That inquiry concluded Murphy's conduct toward at least one male athlete was unwelcome and of a sexual nature.
Plaintiffs originally filed federal Title IX complaints beginning in August 2022, added additional athletes in 2023 and 2025, and then dismissed the federal suits to refile an expanded state action in Wake County in September 2025 and again in February 2026. Murphy was NC State's director of sports medicine and head athletic trainer from January 2012 until June 2022.
The mainstream summary does not mention that the 31 plaintiffs represent athletes from at least eight men’s sports at NC State, highlighting the widespread nature of the allegations against Murphy and the institutional context of the claims. This broader scope underscores the potential systemic issues within the athletic department that may have contributed to the alleged misconduct and the subsequent failure to address it adequately. While the summary emphasizes the dismissal based on procedural grounds, it overlooks the implications of these barriers, particularly the three-year statute of limitations that restricts many survivors from seeking justice for historical abuse. According to a November 2025 analysis, many state legislatures have begun to reconsider these limitations in light of past scandals, yet courts remain divided on retroactive applications, which continues to hinder victims' access to civil justice for claims that date back several years.[2]
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📊 Relevant Data
Robert M. Murphy Jr. served as NC State’s director of sports medicine and head athletic trainer from January 2012 until June 2022.
Murphy seeks dismissal of former NCSU athletes' sex abuse suit — Carolina Journal
A Title IX investigation launched after the initial 2022 report concluded that Murphy’s conduct toward at least one male athlete was unwelcome and of a sexual nature, constituting a policy violation if he had remained employed.
The 31 plaintiffs were former athletes from at least eight men’s sports at NC State.
Lawyers for former NC State athletes allege school officials ignored warnings — WRAL
North Carolina civil claims for the types of misconduct alleged carry a three-year statute of limitations.
Judge tosses former NCSU athletes' sexual abuse lawsuit — Carolina Journal
📌 Key Facts
- On Tuesday, June 9, 2026, Wake County Superior Court Judge Bryan Collins dismissed a lawsuit by 31 former NC State male athletes against ex-trainer Robert M. Murphy Jr. and school officials.
- Collins ruled that claims reaching back to at least 2013 were barred by the statute of limitations and dismissed claims against athletic officials on jurisdictional grounds.
- The athletes alleged years of sexual misconduct during treatment and drug-testing procedures; their attorney Kerry Sutton said they will appeal and plan to add new claims from men who recently came forward.
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