• Former University of Wisconsin women’s basketball players are suing former head coach Marisa Moseley for alleged psychological abuse.
• The defendants, including Moseley and the UW Board of Regents, have filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit.

MADISON – In August, a group of former University of Wisconsin women’s basketball players sued former head coach Marisa Moseley, alleging psychological abuse.

The civil case, which also lists the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents and former UW senior associate athletic director Justin Doherty as defendants, seeks compensatory and punitive damages.

Monday, Dec. 8, the attorney representing the defendants filed a motion in the District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin to dismiss the complaint entirely.

In an 86-page brief, attorney Anne Bensky writes that her clients deny the allegations but that even if they’re taken as true do not contain facts that show a violation of the Constitution or federal laws.

“The Plaintiffs want the federal court to award damages to players whose basketball coach yelled at them,” she wrote. “But because these allegations plainly do not violate the Constitution or federal civil rights laws, the relief they request is outside the Court’s authority.”

The complaint was filed by former Badgers Alexis Duckett, Krystyna Ellew, Mary Ferrito, Tara Stauffacher and Tessa Towers on Aug. 15. The amended complaint filed Sept. 25 included another former Badger, Tessa Grady.

Among the allegations in the 55-page document:

*  Moseley “unconstitutionally toyed with the mental health of her players, including Plaintiffs, as a means of exerting control over every facet of their lives, including retaliating against them based on their protected speech and expressive acts and discriminating against them based on their disabilities or perceived disabilities.”

* Moseley interfered with her players’ mental health treatment, something she accomplished by threatening to take away playing time or scholarships.

The complaint alleges Doherty, who was the administrator for women’s basketball and retired in April, knew about the allegations but did nothing to stop them.

Moseley resigned as Wisconsin’s coach March 9 after four seasons as head coach.

After a denial of the allegations, the defendants’ response to the complaint focuses on the legality of the case being heard by the courts. It also argues the case against Doherty should be dismissed because he was not personally involved.

Bensky’s brief for the defendants focuses on six factors as reasons for dismissal of the case. They included a failure to meet the standard for a Fourteenth Amendment substantive due process claim and the idea that First Amendment claims, in the context of college athletics, receive minimal protection. In the case of Duckett and Stauffacher, there was the passing of the statute of limitations to file a complaint.

Wisconsin athletic director Chris McIntosh mentioned the lawsuit at the October athletic board meeting, but said there wasn’t much information he could share.

“Our initial response to the court is due on or before Dec. 8 and we are actively defending against those allegations, many of which lack full context or are simply false,” he told the board.

“The athletic department must adhere to strict federal laws requiring educational institutions to maintain privacy of student records and medical records therefore we cannot provide specifics to the media or general public absent authorizations for release of that information. If the litigation progresses in a manner that requires us to present the full factual record to the court we will be ready and look forward to providing that information.”

A Cinnabon worker in Wisconsin has been fired after a racist outburst directed at two customers went viral, the Georgia-based cinnamon roll chain said.

PLEASANT PRAIRIE, Wis. – A workplace argument leads to a shooting. It happened nearly three decades ago. Police say the man who pulled the trigger has been on the run ever since. 

Search for Geraldo Gomez

What we know:

“We’ve spent tireless days on this, and it’s gone through a lot of different hands in our time,” the U.S. Marshal on the case said.

In March 1998, investigators say Geraldo Gomez was like a ticking time bomb when he confronted a co-worker on the job.

FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android

“They proceed to argue,” the marshal said. “They go back to work. Everything seems to be OK.”

The backstory:

Gomez was 27 years old at the time when investigators said he marched into his boss’s office and quit. When he walked out the door and straight into the parking lot, his co-worker walked out behind him.

“He followed him out there to ensure that nothing was going to happen to his vehicle,” the investigator said.

A criminal complaint says that’s when Gomez ambushed the man and fired four shots at him.

What they’re saying:

“The victim was actually struck in the hand and the upper torso during that incident,” the marshal explained.

The victim was rushed to the hospital and survived, but U.S. Marshals say Gomez went on the run. He was charged in the case. The now 55-year-old has avoided the law for nearly three decades. Over the years, authorities have tried tracking leads from Waukegan, Illinois to Mexico.

SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News

“There are no geographical boundaries for us,” the marshal said. “We will find you and justice will be served.”

Gomez is described as being 5’4″ tall and weighing 140 pounds. 

Call with tips

What you can do:

U.S. Marshals encourage anyone with information about him to call the tip line at 414-297-3707. You will remain anonymous.