Duke defends decision to dismiss Giuliani’s son

DURHAM — Duke University says the son of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani was properly dismissed from the golf team and was never promised a spot on the squad.

Andrew Giuliani sued Duke in July, claiming he was improperly cut from the team earlier this year and that the coach violated a contract he entered when he agreed to come to the university and pay $200,000 in tuition and fees.

But Duke said in a court filing Wednesday that the 22-year-old Giuliani was properly suspended after throwing an apple in the face of another player, breaking a golf club during a tournament, injuring a teammate and becoming verbally abusive with a coach.

Giuliani’s lawsuit says allegations were fabricated as coach O.D. Vincent III tried to shrink the size of the team.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)