UNC settles with former WR involved in alleged hazing incident
North Carolina has reached a settlement in a case involving the alleged hazing for a former Tar Heels walk-on.
Yahoo Sports was the first to report that Jackson Boyer, a wide receiver, was involved in an alleged physical confrontation with teammates in the Chapel Hill hotel the team stayed in during preseason camp. Boyer reportedly suffered a concussion in the alleged Aug. 4, 2014 incident and received a $795,000 settlement from the school, The News & Observer reported Tuesday after receiving a copy of the settlement.
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The settlement “covers all of Jackson Boyer’s actual or potential personal injury claims, including but not limited to, any claim for damages, attorneys’ frees and litigation expenses,” the paper said.
As part of the settlement, the school said it would continue to work to prevent incidences of hazing.
In addition to the $795,000 payment, which is going into a trust for Boyer, UNC also agreed to pay for all of a mediator’s fees and expenses, and to “continue its good faith, best efforts towards developing healthy team cultures, taking into account the recommendations of the university’s current working group tasked with addressing student issues involving hazing and bullying.”
The parties involved in the settlement, which was completed earlier this month, agreed not to disclose the terms of the agreement, or to talk publicly about the case. Jim Gregory, a university spokesman, confirmed its authenticity.
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The settlement agreement between Boyer’s family and UNC was signed by Boyer and his parents, Kimber and Robert, on June 6. It was finalized on June 11 when Matt Fajack, UNC’s Vice Chancellor of Finance and Administration, signed the agreement.
To this day, few details about the incident are known. Boyer played in seven games for the Tar Heels in 2014 but has since transferred to USC, where is a junior and has two years of eligibility remaining after sitting out in 2015. He has not discussed the matter publicly.
Four of Boyer’s then-teammates – defensive backs Des Lawrence, Donnie Miles, M.J. Stewart and Brian Walker – were suspended for the 2014 season-opener against Liberty in relation to the incident. Lawrence, Miles and Stewart are still with the team and are expected to start in 2016.
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Walker left the program during the 2015 season.
For more North Carolina news, visit TarHeelIllustrated.com.
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Sam Cooper is a writer for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
