BANGOR (AP) – A federal judge has dismissed a complaint by two former University of Maine football players who claimed they were denied a fair hearing when they were suspended in September 2002 amid sexual assault allegations.

U.S. District Judge John Woodcock said in his ruling Friday that former wide receivers Paris Minor of New Jersey and Stefan Gomes of Massachusetts received due process in the university’s disciplinary proceeding and are not entitled to a jury trial on their claims.

Woodcock also dismissed claims for damages.

The former students’ lawyer, Harrison Richardson, said Monday he and his clients were “very, very disappointed with the decision.” No decision has been made yet on whether to appeal the ruling to the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Richardson said.

Paul Chaiken, who represents the University of Maine System in the case, said the decision shows that the university met or exceeded standards that must be observed in student disciplinary cases.

“The university has to give the gentlemen a chance to tell their side of the story,” Chaiken said. “The court says the university did that, and more.”

The student’s suit alleged that the university’s Student Conduct Code Committee denied Gomes and Minor their constitutional right to due process and conducted its investigation, hearing and appeal in bad faith while finding them responsible for violations of the Student Conduct Code.

The university had asked the court for a summary judgment dismissing the case, arguing that the ex-football players’ case is not substantial enough to go to trial because the law and legal precedents were on the university’s side.

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