Conference realignment has now gotten to the point where leagues are suing their member schools and vice versa.
The Big East Conference on Friday filed suit against West Virginia University in Superior Court for the State of Rhode Island, Providence County.
This breach of contract lawsuit seeks an order requiring West Virginia to comply with the Big East Bylaws, as well as damages resulting from West Virginia’s improper attempted withdrawal in violation of those Bylaws.
“Today’s legal action underscores The Big East Conference’s stated position that it will vigorously pursue the enforcement of its rights and West Virginia University’s obligations under the conference’s Bylaws which West Virginia formally agreed to and helped construct,” Big East Commissioner John Marinatto said in a statement.
West Virginia filed suit in state court against the Big East last week in an attempt to leave the conference immediately and join the Big 12 for July 1, 2012.
Marinatto has always maintained that all three schools attempting to leave — including Syracuse and Pittsburgh to the ACC — must wait until June 30, 2014.
“This is a response that was to be expected,” Michael McCann, editor in chief of the Sports Law blog and a tenured professor at Vermont Law School, told SNY.tv by phone Friday. “The Big East is obviously trying to protect the integrity of the conference and the viability of it. And West Virginia trying to leave potentially in breach of its contract would be a classic case of breach of contract that the Big East can attempt to enforce.”
