(Carolina Journal) – Thirty-one former N.C. State University athletes are appealing a judge’s decision to dismiss their lawsuit against a former sports medicine director and seven university officials.

The suit accuses Robert Murphy of sexually abusing the athletes. The plaintiffs accuse current and former N.C. State officials of failing to take proper steps to prevent the abuse.

Wake County Superior Court Judge Bryan Collins dismissed the suit on June 9. The former athletes filed a notice of appeal Wednesday.

The former players sought damages against Murphy for assault, battery, intrusion upon seclusion, and constructive fraud. They sought damages for negligence and “negligent retention and/or supervision” against the current and former NCSU administrators.

All plaintiffs played for NCSU sports teams between 2010 and 2024. Other than Benjamin Locke, none of the plaintiffs’ sports are listed in the complaint. Twenty-eight plaintiffs were scholarship athletes, and 22 currently live in North Carolina, according to court records.

“Murphy’s sexual assaults and harassment of male student-athletes was so widely known within the NCSU Athletics Department that any student-athlete known to be on his way to a treatment or drug testing session with Murphy was said to be on his way to get ‘a Rob Murphy Special,’” according to the complaint.

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