WSU goes big time, legally

[Cougsocal]

According to pleading filed today in Whitman County Superior Court. WSU and Kirk Schulz have retained Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, a NYC based, multinational law firm to representtheir interests going forward. OSU has retained local counsel, and based upon the fact that this suit has been filed in our backyard, Whitman County, OSU is clearly taking a second chair role. I wouldn't want it any other way.

This, my friends, is clearly sending a shot across the bow to the feckless 10 and the NCAA that we mean business, and we don't intend to be their punching bag any longer.

I have been very critical of both Schulz and Chun for fiddling while Rome burned, and not going down swinging. With this they have officially donned the gloves, and entered the Octagon. Whether we ultimately win or lose, I sincerely appreciate the effort. This is clearly an "all in" move, putting WSU interests first and foremost. They are burning a number of bridges, professionally, by doing this. It is doubtful that they will ever get those plumb positions they may have coveted, now. But thank for your loyalty and commitment to the Cougar nation.

Go Cougs beat the overgrown ferrets!

 

[12375CAT]

I'd rather you & Beavers get invited to B12 instead👍

 

[chugspig]

According to pleading filed today in Whitman County Superior Court. WSU and Kirk Schulz have retained Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, a NYC based, multinational law firm to representtheir interests going forward. OSU has retained local counsel, and based upon the fact that this suit has been filed in our backyard, Whitman County, OSU is clearly taking a second chair role. I wouldn't want it any other way.

This, my friends, is clearly sending a shot across the bow to the feckless 10 and the NCAA that we mean business, and we don't intend to be their punching bag any longer.

I have been very critical of both Schulz and Chun for fiddling while Rome burned, and not going down swinging. With this they have officially donned the gloves, and entered the Octagon. Whether we ultimately win or lose, I sincerely appreciate the effort. This is clearly an "all in" move, putting WSU interests first and foremost. They are burning a number of bridges, professionally, by doing this. It is doubtful that they will ever get those plumb positions they may have coveted, now. But thank for your loyalty and commitment to the Cougar nation.

Go Cougs beat the overgrown ferrets!

Can you explain how big/powerful or respected this firm is. Or what their reputation brings to this situation? Just curious as I don’t know much about law. Are we talking about like the Alabama’s of law?

 

[Loyal Coug1]

Can you explain how big/powerful or respected this firm is. Or what their reputation brings to this situation? Just curious as I don’t know much about law. Are we talking about like the Alabama’s of law?

I'm just not sure I understand what we are suing about. I guess it will come clear over time.

 

[chugspig]

I'm just not sure I understand what we are suing about. I guess it will come clear over time.

https://www.oregonlive.com/beavers/...Oregonian/magazine/Oregon+State+Beavers+News+

This explains it all. GK seems to be being deceitful to OSU and WSU and is attempting to possibly change bylaws and secure payments for himself/others. He attempted to bring back schools to the table who don’t have voting rights, while ignoring the withdrawal clause. Article explains the timeline and issue in depth.

 

[CougEd]

According to pleading filed today in Whitman County Superior Court. WSU and Kirk Schulz have retained Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, a NYC based, multinational law firm to representtheir interests going forward. OSU has retained local counsel, and based upon the fact that this suit has been filed in our backyard, Whitman County, OSU is clearly taking a second chair role. I wouldn't want it any other way.

This, my friends, is clearly sending a shot across the bow to the feckless 10 and the NCAA that we mean business, and we don't intend to be their punching bag any longer.

I have been very critical of both Schulz and Chun for fiddling while Rome burned, and not going down swinging. With this they have officially donned the gloves, and entered the Octagon. Whether we ultimately win or lose, I sincerely appreciate the effort. This is clearly an "all in" move, putting WSU interests first and foremost. They are burning a number of bridges, professionally, by doing this. It is doubtful that they will ever get those plumb positions they may have coveted, now. But thank for your loyalty and commitment to the Cougar nation.

Go Cougs beat the overgrown ferrets!

SoCal … I am impressed . Looking at an early post this was your advice , and 12 hours later they came to the same conclusion and now are executing the plan . Good work

 

[BSpike76]

According to The Spokesman, the 10 breeched the GOR by announcing withdrawal prior to next August. First I’d heard of that.

 

[WillieThePimp]

I'm just not sure I understand what we are suing about. I guess it will come clear over time.

Big head atrophy from overuse of the little head.

Try rereading the threads and especially the posts by the lawyers and the linked articles and you’ll get there.

 

[bostoncoug]

I'd rather you & Beavers get invited to B12 instead👍

Can you explain how big/powerful or respected this firm is. Or what their reputation brings to this situation? Just curious as I don’t know much about law. Are we talking about like the Alabama’s of law?

Chugs, my wife is a lawyer at a big Boston firm. Ran these guys by her and she confirmed they are legit. Cougs are packing heat with this one.

 

[Cougsocal]

SoCal … I am impressed . Looking at an early post this was your advice , and 12 hours later they came to the same conclusion and now are executing the plan . Good work

Ed, while the gravamen of this lawsuit maybe limited, "the dispute" as we know, isn't just about existing Pac-12 assets, but also future revenues from the NCAA, the legality of actions taken and future power conference status. I have no idea whether these guys are any better than available local counsel. For all I know, we could have simply purchased and "of counsel" relationship and most of the legal work will be done locally. But not since we hired Mike Leach has WSU made a statement like this, that we mean business moving forward. Until now, the NCAA may have been thinking that they could merely have a "committee meeting" and vote to take our future revenue streams away, and deprive the Pac of its power conference status. Well, they now know if they don't treat us fairly moving forward, there will be a fight.

 

[dgibbons]

I'm just not sure I understand what we are suing about. I guess it will come clear over time.

Control.

 

[Cougsocal]

Can you explain how big/powerful or respected this firm is. Or what their reputation brings to this situation? Just curious as I don’t know much about law. Are we talking about like the Alabama’s of law?

It is among the most respected law firms in the country, generating nearly two billion in revenue annually.

This is ALL about sending a message that you aren't going to push WSU around anymore. How do you send that message? If you are being bullied, or feel you are, you could hire a couple local tough guys to watch your back, and they might get the job done nicely (OSU), but nothing says don't even think about "F" with me like hiring Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou to do the same job. WSU just hired their equivalent, more or less. So yes, needing a win, WSU just retained Alabama's roster, but more accurately, the perception we have.

It doesn't mean victory, or expect legal miracles, but it says, emphatically, think twice before attempting to screw us over.

 

[Cougsocal]

Chugs, my wife is a lawyer at a big Boston firm. Ran these guys by her and she confirmed they are legit. Cougs are packing heat with this one.

By the way, their lead attorney, Andrew Tulumello, heads their complex commercial litigation department. So you can guess where this may be going. The story that the feckless 10 and the NCAA are now aware, but the media is missing is that WSU, just turned the heat way way up.

 

[Cougsocal]

I'd rather you & Beavers get invited to B12 instead👍

Me too, and WSU's overarching strategy might to persuade the NCAA that it is in their "best interest" to include WSU/OSU within the power conference structure, after all. Some might say that by going "Wall Street" WSU is signalling to the NCAA that they are willing to engage in a "scorched earth" tactics as a means of persuasion that they belong. They just retained a Wall Street complex commercial litigation specialist for a reason.

The last time universities(UGa/Okla) sued the NCAA (1980s), the NCAA lost its control over TV rights and billions. This time it could losing control of its playoff/tourney management and revenue streams. While that isn't in WSU interest, and would clearly play into the big boy's hands, it clearly would hurt the NCAA far more.

 

[Flatlandcoug]

Me too, and WSU's overarching strategy might to persuade the NCAA that it is in their "best interest" to include WSU/OSU within the power conference structure, after all. Some might say that by going "Wall Street" WSU is signalling to the NCAA that they are willing to engage in a "scorched earth" tactics as a means of persuasion that they belong. They just retained a Wall Street complex commercial litigation specialist for a reason.

The last time universities(UGa/Okla) sued the NCAA (1980s), the NCAA lost its control over TV rights and billions. This time it could losing control of its playoff/tourney management and revenue streams. While that isn't in WSU interest, and would clearly play into the big boy's hands, it clearly would hurt the NCAA far more.

We are definitely in "nothing to lose" territory right now.

 

[425cougfan]

Weil is ranked #12 in the Vault rankings for biglaw. The Vault rankings are one of a few imperfect methods for thinking about these kinds of things in terms of prestige and cachet of the firm (as opposed to AmLaw rankings, which are based on revenues). #12 is highly legit, though. For comparison, the most highly rated Seattle-based firm is at #31, and that rating has improved from about #45 not that long ago.

 

[425cougfan]

According to pleading filed today in Whitman County Superior Court. WSU and Kirk Schulz have retained Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, a NYC based, multinational law firm to representtheir interests going forward. OSU has retained local counsel, and based upon the fact that this suit has been filed in our backyard, Whitman County, OSU is clearly taking a second chair role. I wouldn't want it any other way.

This, my friends, is clearly sending a shot across the bow to the feckless 10 and the NCAA that we mean business, and we don't intend to be their punching bag any longer.

I have been very critical of both Schulz and Chun for fiddling while Rome burned, and not going down swinging. With this they have officially donned the gloves, and entered the Octagon. Whether we ultimately win or lose, I sincerely appreciate the effort. This is clearly an "all in" move, putting WSU interests first and foremost. They are burning a number of bridges, professionally, by doing this. It is doubtful that they will ever get those plumb positions they may have coveted, now. But thank for your loyalty and commitment to the Cougar nation.

Go Cougs beat the overgrown ferrets!

I appreciate that bolded point and there's something to it. The ten traitor schools, certainly, and any other schools to which its current administrators go, aren't going to be hiring Schulz or Chun. That said, I think putting the institution first is both part of the job and would be appreciated by some other employers, even if some also might think they should just play the game and go along with it, as often happens. I think the majority would think that in this situation, these guys are right to use legal process in the manner we have seen thus far.

 

[HHusky]

I don't care who the law firm is, you and OSU are the only ones who didn't leave. I assume you get the assets. You should.

 

[wsudefense]

A better time
Line and George Kliavkoff is a rat who can’t be trusted.

Pac-12 chaos: Inside the 11 days that led to WSU and OSU taking legal action against the conference
https://www.oregonlive.com/beavers/...king-legal-action-against-the-conference.html

 

[bostoncoug]

I’m loving what I’m seeing. Hiring to NY law firms. Beating ranked Big 10 teams. Take control of the PAC. Fire George. No mercy!!