Lindsey Miller reportedly files motion to dismiss in Rebel Rags lawsuit

Published 7:04 pm Thursday, July 6, 2017

The latest turn in the Rebel Rags lawsuit stemming from the NCAA’s investigation into Ole Miss’ football program involves one of the defendants wanting out.

Lindsey Miller, the stepfather of former Ole Miss offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil and one of three defendants named in the suit, filed a motion to dismiss Thursday, according to a report by Sports Illustrated’s Pete Thamel. The motion claims that the complaint “fails to state a valid claim” against Miller, according to Thamel.

Rebel Rags, an Oxford-based retail clothing company, filed a lawsuit last month suing Miller and Mississippi State players Leo Lewis and Kobe Jones for defamation and slander in response to what the store believes were false statements made by the trio to the NCAA during the course of its investigation. The suit was filed in Lafayette County Circuit Court less than a week after Ole Miss publicly responded to the NCAA’s amended Notice of Allegations.

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Allegation No. 9 in the NOA accuses former assistant coach Chris Kiffin and former staffer Barney Farrar of arranging for Miller, Lewis and Jones to receive $2,800 worth of free merchandise from Rebel Rags, which constitutes impermissible benefits raising to a Level-I violation. Ole Miss, Kiffin and Farrar have all denied that improper benefits were arranged with the store.

Rebel Rags, which is being represented by Clarksdale-based attorney Charles Merkel, has asked for the charge to be stricken from the NOA. Lewis and Jones are scheduled to undergo depositions July 19, but those could be delayed.

Fifteen John Does are also listed as defendants in the lawsuit.