Judge Michael P. Wills of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi has reportedly dismissed the lawsuit that was filed by defensive tackle DeSanto Rollins against the head coach of the Ole Miss Rebels football team, Lane Kiffin.
The lawsuit was filed by Rollins in September last year, according to ESPN. The case was filed for various reasons, including sexual and racial discrimination. The other reason cited in the report was also a failure to provide equal protection.
The defensive tackle also stated that he was dismissed from the squad due to a missed practice session as he was going through a crisis of mental health. Rollins further states that the head coach took counteraction against him "on account of race for requesting and taking a mental health break, but not taking adverse action against white student-athlete."
The sexual discrimination was issued on the basis that Ole Miss Rebels did not take "adverse action against female student-athletes for requesting and taking a mental health break."
The lawsuit further revealed that Rollins was shifted from defensive to offensive line as he had refused to go in the transfer portal and that the head coach "maliciously, deliberately, intentionally, and in blatant disregard for the rights and health of Rollins verbally assaulted him."
According to Inside The Rebels, the defensive tackle was seeking $30 million in punitive damages and $10 million in compensatory damages. In return, Kiffin and Ole Miss decided to file the motion, which would seek dismissal of the case.
A federal judge dismissed the $40 million lawsuit from Ole Miss DT DeSanto Rollins that listed Lane Kiffin and the school as defendants.@byajperez’s story ⬇️
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) February 1, 2024
According to Front Office Sports, one of the meetings took a heated turn as Kiffin stated to the player, "In the real f—ing world, you show up to work. Then you say, ‘Hey, I have mental issues. I can’t do anything for two weeks. What f—ing world do you live in?"
The attorneys Paul B. Watkins, Jr. and Walter G. Watkins Jr. also shared their statement which was in support of the dismissal of the lawsuit. The statement said, "[Rollins] has not alleged Kiffin treated him differently than other similarly situated individuals, much less that he did so with discriminatory intent because of [his] race or sex."
Judge Mills also shared, "Both the University and Kiffin in his official capacity enjoy sovereign immunity, which they have not waived. hus, this Court will only have jurisdiction if Congress has validly abrogated the defendant’s immunity."
"Rollins has offered no evidence that he was medically cleared to return or that he made any effort whatsoever to resume team activities after the March 21 meeting. Consequently, the evidence shows that it was up to Rollins when or if he resumed team activities—the decision was entirely his own."
