After Davis and his step-brother, Mike Lang, accused Bernie Fine of molesting them when they were boys, Boeheim vehemently defended his longtime friend and assistant coach. He said Davis was lying to cash in on the publicity generated by a sexual abuse scandal unfolding at Penn State University. The Hall of Fame coach later backed off, saying he based his defense on loyalty and two previous claims of abuse against Fine that authorities could not substantiate.
Boeheim apologized after a third accuser came forward at the end of November and a years-old audiotape surfaced of a phone conversation between Davis and Laurie Fine that some have interpreted as Fine acknowledging Davis was abused by her husband.
In December, Davis and Lang filed a slander suit in state court. The affidavit filed Monday repeatedly makes the point that Davis believes Boeheim knew or should have known what his players were up to. He also believes Boeheim should have backed his accusations.
“He knew or purposefully chose to ignore Fine and his wife’s behavior,’’ Davis said in the affidavit. “He had every reason to know that I was telling the truth, but he instead lashed out at me and called me and my brother liars.’’
A lawyer for Boeheim did not return calls seeking comment.
Kevin Quinn, a spokesman for the university said: “We will respond to the plaintiffs’ lawsuit and their various allegations at the appropriate time.’’
The court document also says Davis spoke directly to Bernie Fine about his wife’s sexual relationships with players and that “Bernie Fine did not react in the slightest.’’
Davis, who lived with the Fines for a time, said Laurie Fine would lavish certain players with attention, including doing their laundry, lending them her car and giving the player money and gifts.
A lawyer for Laurie Fine calls the accusations in the affidavit a “desperate’’ attempt to keep the suit alive.
