Ole Miss and Lane Kiffin Lawyers File Motion to Dismiss Lawsuit
Lawyers representing Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss have filed a motion to dismiss a federal lawsuit filed by Rebels player DeSanto Rollins in September. In the motion filed on Wednesday, Kiffin and the school’s attorneys outlined several reasons why they believe the lawsuit should be dismissed.
Rollins, who remains on scholarship at the school, alleged in the lawsuit that he was subjected to “grossly reckless, and indifferent” treatment by Kiffin and claimed that the head coach ignored indications that Rollins was suffering from depression. The lawsuit seeks $40 million in damages.
However, attorneys Paul B. Watkins, Jr. and Walter G. Watkins, Jr. argued in the motion that Rollins has not presented evidence that Kiffin treated him differently than other similarly situated individuals, much less that he did so with discriminatory intent because of Rollins’ race or sex. The lawyers also noted that Rollins did not allege that Kiffin was involved in decisions about alleged mental health breaks taken by other student-athletes.
At the center of the lawsuit is a meeting between Rollins and Kiffin on March 21, during which a contentious exchange took place. According to Rollins, Kiffin told him, “This is a job. If I have mental issues, I can’t not see my boss, when you were told again and again the head coach needs to see you.” Front Office Sports exclusively obtained the audio recording of the conversation, in which Kiffin is heard using explicit language.
In their motion to dismiss, Kiffin and Ole Miss’ lawyers argued that there is no statutory duty for a football coach to manage his team roster or speak to his players in any particular way.
Rollins, who is Black, alleged in the lawsuit that he was denied his 14th Amendment rights of equal protection and claimed that his rights under Title IX were violated. However, the lawyers for the school and Kiffin countered that Kiffin cannot be the target of such allegations as an individual and that Rollins’ claims under Title IX may not seek reputational or emotional distress damages.
The lawyers also asserted that Rollins’ negligence claim against Kiffin cannot be pursued in federal court because of the Mississippi Tort Claims Act.
Messages left with Ole Miss and the lawyers representing the school and Kiffin were not returned. It remains to be seen how the court will rule on the motion to dismiss the lawsuit.