USATSI
The University of Washington is attempting to intervene in a lawsuit previously filed by Oregon State and Washington State against the Pac-12 and commissioner George Kliavkoff. The motion, filed in the Whitman County Superior Court on Monday not far from the Washington State campus, seeks to dismiss the complaint brought forth by the Pac-12’s remaining two schools.
At stake in the legal battle is control of conference decision making between now and Aug. 1, 2024, by which point 10 universities will have departed the Pac-12 for various other power conferences.
“UW has a significant stake in opposing WSU and OSU’s claims and preventing the Court from granting the relief requested,” the motion states. “True, UW is leaving the Conference after the 2023-24 academic year. But, in the meantime, UW remains a member of the Conference, and board participation and voting power affects the experience of UW’s athletics teams and student-athletes for the 2023-24 academic year as well as UW’s bargained-for contractual rights and financial interest.”
The nine other Pac-12 schools departing the conference filed a brief in support of the motion. Mediation between Oregon State and Washington State and the 10 departing members is ongoing, but the remaining “Pac-2” programs wish to proceed with their case.
“Our court filings show how our schools are in full compliance with the Pac-12 Bylaws, which prohibit a member from leaving the conference before August 2024 but allow schools to announce a withdrawal that will…
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