Woman In UMass Rape Case Files Civil Suits Seeking Damages

A woman who accused four teenagers of raping her in her University of Massachusetts dormitory room has filed civil suits against them and the university.

Three of the young men have been found guilty of criminal charges and are serving sentences of at least eight years in prison. The fourth is expected to go on trial next month.

The suits were filed Tuesday in Hampshire Superior Court. They accuse each of the defendants of sexual assault, inflicting emotional distress and false imprisonment.

The other suit seeks unspecified damages against UMass for failing to protect her by allowing drugs and alcohol into the dormitory and letting the defendants violate her civil rights. It also accuses two employees of negligence.

A UMass spokesman says the university would not comment on the matter.