LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) – A Douglas County District Court judge has dismissed a civil lawsuit against Kansas point guard Sherron Collins.
Collins had been accused of sexually assaulting a 35-year-old woman in an elevator in May 2007.
Collins’ attorney, Chris Burger, and the woman’s attorney, James Wisler, agreed to file a motion requesting a dismissal with prejudice.
Court officials said Judge Jack Murphy signed the order of dismissal in the case Thursday. A dismissal with prejudice means that neither party can bring further legal action against the other in this matter.
Collins said in an e-mailed statement that he had “always known I was innocent.”
“I’m glad it’s officially over and I can now focus entirely on school and basketball,” he said.
Jessica J. Brown accused Collins of exposing himself and rubbing against her in an elevator on May 18, 2007, at a university apartment complex. She filed a civil lawsuit against him and was awarded damages in excess of $75,000 in June because Collins failed to file a legal response to the suit within 20 days of its filing.
Collins’ lawyer filed a motion to set aside the judge’s ruling, arguing that Collins did not intentionally ignore notices of the lawsuit when it was filed May 14.
The motion stated that Collins was not aware a previous attorney who had been hired to handle the case for him had ended their attorney-client relationship.
Collins is the top returning player for the national champion Jayhawks, who lost all five starters from their championship team. Mario Chalmers, Darrell Arthur, Brandon Rush, Darnell Jackson and Sasha Kaun were all taken in the NBA draft.
Collins scored in double digits 15 times last year, including both games of the Final Four.
Coach Bill Self said in an e-mailed statement said he was happy the case was behind Collins.
“We have supported Sherron since day one of this, so this dismissal does not surprise me,” Self said.
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