I’ve been encouraged by partisans on both sides to take a look at recent legal pleadings in the federal court lawsuit between the Razorback Foundation and former Hog football coach Bret Bielema over its refusal to pay  $7 million remaining on an $11 million buyout agreement because he didn’t try hard enough to get a well-paying  job that would have offset the foundation’s obligation.

The latest fireworks are these:

Last Tuesday, Bielema’s attorneys, led by Tom Mars, made the relatively rare request for so-called Rule 11 sanctions against the Razorback Foundation’s attorneys. Stripped of all the legal language, the motion essentially asserts that the Razorback attorneys made unfounded allegations of fraud by Bielema.

Advertisement

Here’s the brief defending that motion.

The Foundation’s lawyers, led by Marshall Ney of the Friday firm, fired back that day with a recitation of facts they believe substantiate their allegations, including that they had witnesses to support their position. They also took swipes at Tom Mars as a publicity hound.

Advertisement

Here’s that response.

Monday, Mars responded to the response, saying in part:

Advertisement

Consistent with the Foundation’s practice of using pleadings as a platform to rant and disparage Coach Bielema and his counsel, the Response begins and ends with contemptuous mudslinging toward Bielema’s counsel.

Heres’ the pleading.

The battle has brought another familiar name into the fight, that of former Razorback assistant coach Barry Lunney Jr.

Advertisement

The Foundation had asserted that Lunney “had personal knowledge of Bielema’s statement that he would not pursue the head coaching position at KSU.” This would have been a big-paying job that would have gone a long way toward offsetting the foundation obligation.

Bielema’s attorney said he interviewed Lunney last Thursday and Lunney disputed the Foundation’s assertion.  The response included an exhibit with what are said to be text messages from Lunney.

Advertisement

Here’s the full exhibit on Lunney’s texts.

And a snip:

Advertisement

There’s much more in all these pleadings about lawyer conduct, Bielema’s job hunts and other characters familiar and unfamiliar to football fans.

I’ll leave it at that. But if Veterans Day leaves you with time on your hands and you like Razorback intrigue and legal wrangling, I’ve paid the federal court fee so you can read the documents.

 

 

 

Arkansas Times: Your voice in the fight

Are you tired of watered-down news and biased reporting? The Arkansas Times has been fighting for truth and justice for 50 years. As an alternative newspaper in Little Rock, we are tough, determined, and unafraid to take on powerful forces. With over 63,000 Facebook followers, 58,000 Twitter followers, 35,000 Arkansas blog followers, and 70,000 daily email blasts, we are making a difference. But we can't do it without you. Join the 3,400 paid subscribers who support our great journalism and help us hire more writers. Sign up for a subscription today or make a donation of as little as $1 and help keep the Arkansas Times feisty for years to come.

Previous article FBI charge New York man for threats on social media Next article Police complaint filed against Pulaski Election Commission Chair Evelyn Gomez