Federal Judge Tosses Indiana Basketball Lawsuit Over Statute of Limitations

A federal judge shut down a Title IX lawsuit against Indiana University on Tuesday, ruling that former men's basketball players waited too long to file their complaint. The case alleged improper sexual conduct by a former team physician, but the court said the players' claim fell way past the two-year statute of limitations for reporting sexual abuse.

What the Lawsuit Claimed

The lawsuit, filed back in October 2024, alleged that university officials, including former head coach Bobby Knight (who died in 2023), failed to stop misconduct by former team physician Dr. Bradford Bomba despite knowing about complaints regarding his behavior. According to the complaint, Bomba routinely performed rectal exams on male athletes during physicals in the 1980s and '90s, even though medical guidance at the time did not recommend these exams for college-age men. The players argued this conduct constituted sexual misconduct.

The Judge's Call

U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt of the Southern District of Indiana dismissed the case, writing that the players actually undermined their own argument. In her order, Judge Pratt noted that the plaintiffs claimed they knew decades ago, when the alleged assaults occurred, that the behavior was "widely known among university staff" and that those officials had "authority to take corrective action." Because of this, the judge ruled they should have reported the abuse much sooner.

The players' attorneys had argued that their clients only became aware in 2024 that Bomba's actions constituted sexual abuse under Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in education and athletics. But the judge's reasoning effectively rejected that argument.

What's Next

Plaintiff Haris Mujezinovic, who played for Indiana in the late 1990s, released a statement through his attorney saying: "We are disappointed in the Court's decision, but are taking time to weigh our options and make informed decisions about next steps." The university did not respond to multiple requests for comment from ESPN.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.