Iowa athletes join civil suit over gambling sting fallout

In a significant legal development, ten additional athletes from Iowa and Iowa State, along with an Iowa basketball equipment manager, have joined a civil lawsuit against the state following a 2023 gambling investigation. This lawsuit, initiated in April by attorneys Van Plumb and Matthew Boles, now includes 37 plaintiffs who allege violations of their rights and reputations due to improper investigative conduct. The federal judge's approval for these new plaintiffs to intervene highlights the growing concern over the treatment of athletes involved in the gambling sting. The investigation led to criminal charges for many athletes, with most opting for plea deals related to underage gambling. However, several prominent athletes, including Iowa State football players and a wrestler, had their charges dropped after it was revealed that investigators misused tracking software to monitor mobile betting activities. This misuse raises serious questions about the legality and ethics of the investigative methods employed. The civil suit claims that the actions of the investigators infringed upon the athletes' Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment rights, resulting in emotional distress and damage to their reputations. The athletes argue that the investigators lacked proper training in using the tracking software, which contributed to the violations of their constitutional rights. As the case unfolds, it underscores the broader implications for college athletes regarding gambling regulations and the potential consequences of their actions. The outcome of this lawsuit could set a precedent for how similar cases are handled in the future, particularly concerning the rights of student-athletes in the face of legal scrutiny.