PROVIDENCE — A Rhode Island judge has denied a request for a permanent restraining order sought by a key witness in a lawsuit over a rape allegation at Brown University. The decision yesterday reverses a temporary order granted last week.
The request was from Michael Burch, a former assistant wrestling coach at Brown who advised a student who says he was falsely accused of rape by a classmate. The student, William McCormick of Waukesha, Wis., is now suing in federal court.
Burch sought the order against the father of McCormick’s accuser after the father hired a private investigation firm to spy on Burch.
After hearing arguments, Superior Court Judge Sarah Taft-Carter decided the matter was best left to federal court and denied a permanent order.