Judge ready to rule against Leach in lawsuits
LUBBOCK, Texas - A judge is preparing to sign final orders to grant summary judgment in favor of Craig James, ESPN Inc. and a public relations firm in lawsuits brought against them by football coach Mike Leach after he was fired by Texas Tech, Leach attorney Stephen Heninger said Thursday.
State District Judge William Sowder sent letters Tuesday to attorneys, asking defense attorneys to draw up a proposed order for summary judgment in the cases. The letters said the judge was granting the motions for summary judgment but it not official until Sowder signs the order.
Heninger said Leach would appeal once the judge signs.
"I'm very surprised," Heninger said. "Feel very confident on the appeal. Very."
In February, the last remaining count in Leach's lawsuit against the school was dismissed. Leach is now the coach at Washington State.
Shannon Teicher, the attorney representing public relations firm Spaeth Communications, said her client was confident the judge would rule in favor of the company.
"The truth made its way into the record," Teicher said.
Texas Tech fired Leach in December 2009 amid accusations he mistreated James' son, a player who had a concussion. James was named a defendant in the lawsuit Leach filed against the university.
The suit against ESPN and Spaeth Communication alleged libel and slander.
NCAA getting out of jersey-selling business
The NCAA is getting out of the memorabilia business.
NCAA President Mark Emmert said Thursday it would stop the practice immediately after reports this week that team jerseys and other items linked to individual schools could be found on its own website by searching for specific player names.
"I think seeing the NCAA sell those kinds of goods is a mistake," Emmert said during a conference call with reporters. "It's not what the NCAA is about. So we're not going to be doing that any longer."
The NCAA is being sued by former players and a handful of current college players in federal court over the use of athlete images and likenesses. And just this past week, ESPN reported that the NCAA is investigating Heisman Trophy-winner Johnny Manziel for allegedly being paid to sign memorabilia, which if true could jeopardize eligibility as a violation of NCAA amateurism rules.
