Wake County Superior Court Judge Bryan Collins dismissed a lawsuit filed by 31 former NC State male athletes accusing former sports‑medicine director Robert M. Murphy Jr. of sexual abuse. The judge ruled the claims were barred by the statute of limitations, ending the case in state court.

The lawsuit stemmed from a 2022 federal complaint alleging improper touching and invasive drug‑testing procedures by Murphy. Plaintiffs argued that athletic‑department officials failed to act on concerns. Collins also struck down claims against former AD Debbie Yow and current AD Boo Corrigan, citing jurisdictional limits.

Defenders of the dismissal, including Murphy’s attorney Jared Hammett, praised the court’s decision and framed it as a protection against unfounded accusations. Plaintiffs’ attorney Kerry Sutton vowed to appeal, arguing the dismissal was purely procedural and not a verdict on abuse allegations.

The ruling leaves NC State’s athletic program’s oversight practices under scrutiny while the university maintains it does not condone misconduct. The case highlights the legal pathways for campus‑related abuse claims, pointing to the North Carolina Industrial Commission as the appropriate forum for future complaints.