The latest on Florida State, ACC, Clemson lawsuits
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The dueling lawsuits between Florida State and the ACC are playing out in courts: Florida State University Board of Trustees vs. Atlantic Coast Conference and Atlantic Coast Conference vs. Board of Trustees of Florida State University. We’re using this as a landing spot for the latest updates with FSU’s case (filed in Leon County), the ACC’s case (filed in Mecklenburg County, N. C.
) and ones between Clemson and the ACC as the Seminoles and Tigers weigh a potential exit from the league — a move that could trigger another round of conference realignment. **The latest (Sept. 11 2024):** Florida State and the ACC spent less than an hour arguing their cases before Florida’s First District Court of Appeal. The ACC wants that appellate court to pause FSU’s suit in Tallahassee while the ACC’s suit proceeds in North Carolina. FSU wants its case to keep going.
One of the most interesting lines was from the ACC’s counsel about the proper place to hear arguments about a North Carolina-based conference involving schools from multiple states: “You have to be wearing garnet and gold-colored lenses to come up with Tallahassee as the answer for the most natural place for that contract dispute. ” We’ll have a full story later. **Sept. 4 2024:** The ACC has asked the North Carolina Supreme Court to streamline its litigation against FSU and Clemson. In a filing Tuesday, the conference suggested that the schools’ appeals processes should follow the same schedule.
That includes having oral arguments on the same day. Though the ACC’s suits against FSU and Clemson are separate, they center on the same documents (the ACC’s grant of rights and TV contracts) and arguments (sovereign immunity for public schools based in other states). The proposed timeline: briefs by the schools in October, briefs by the ACC in December and replies by the schools on or before mid-January. **Aug. 22 2024:** FSU and the ACC met last week for their court-ordered mediation but did not reach a settlement, according to a document filed Tuesday in the Leon County court system.
However, the parties “continue discussions. ” **Aug. 12 2024:** The latest FSU-ACC court date is set. Florida’s First District Court of Appeal will hear oral arguments on Sept. 11 over whether FSU’s suit against the league should proceed in Leon County.
A Tallahassee judge has ruled that it should, but the ACC has appealed that decision. Each side will be given 20 minutes. **Aug. 9, 2024:** Yahoo! Sports reports that FSU and the ACC are scheduled to meet for mediation next week.
This is not a surprise. On April 22, a Tallahassee judge ordered the sides to complete mediation within 120 days. The deadline is approaching.