MEGA Conference Realignment and lawsuits Megathread: Stories, Tales, Lies, and Exaggerations

[caneingville]

"Georgia appears intent on making an example of someone, they just picked the wrong person," said Jeff Jensen, one of Wilson's attorneys. "Damon never had a contract with them. I don't see how Georgia thinks intimidation and litigation will help their recruitment efforts -- maybe players could bring lawyers with them to practice."



The new lawsuit filed Tuesday claims that Drummond's statement is defamatory and intended to harm Wilson's reputation. The suit also claims that Georgia, the Classic City Collective and the collective's operators committed tortious interference and civil conspiracy against Wilson.

The lawsuit states that Georgia officials told coaches at other football programs that Wilson had a "$1.2 million buyout" in an alleged attempt to dissuade other schools from recruiting him.

Wilson's lawyers argue that the three-page term sheet he signed last December is not legally binding because it isn't a full contract. The document, which was shared as part of Georgia's lawsuit, states that it will "be used to create a legal binding document."

 

[Fart Keyhole]

"Georgia appears intent on making an example of someone, they just picked the wrong person," said Jeff Jensen, one of Wilson's attorneys. "Damon never had a contract with them. I don't see how Georgia thinks intimidation and litigation will help their recruitment efforts -- maybe players could bring lawyers with them to practice."



The new lawsuit filed Tuesday claims that Drummond's statement is defamatory and intended to harm Wilson's reputation. The suit also claims that Georgia, the Classic City Collective and the collective's operators committed tortious interference and civil conspiracy against Wilson.

The lawsuit states that Georgia officials told coaches at other football programs that Wilson had a "$1.2 million buyout" in an alleged attempt to dissuade other schools from recruiting him.

Wilson's lawyers argue that the three-page term sheet he signed last December is not legally binding because it isn't a full contract. The document, which was shared as part of Georgia's lawsuit, states that it will "be used to create a legal binding document."

#DeathToUGA

 

[CaneinBroward]

Very interesting. I would imagine UGA would have to prove their losses?

 

[Empirical Cane]

 

[Shogungts]

The JMU one surprised me.

When Cignetti left, 13 players went with him to Indiana and then another 15-20 transferred to other schools so JMU likely had to get a bunch of transfers themselves.

 

[RozayCane]

Ahhh what? Do you guys see this coming to football?

 

[caneingville]

Ahhh what? Do you guys see this coming to football?

I thought the same thing when I saw that earlier. Will be one to keep an eye on for sure.

 

[Tony4Canes]

Have the said why these guys able to go back to college??

 

[BS85]

#portalisnotsustainable

Always been a horrendous take. Some are still hanging onto the notion you have to consistently develop high school qbs too which is also a **** take.

 

[RozayCane]

Lol

 

[OldhamA]

"Georgia appears intent on making an example of someone, they just picked the wrong person," said Jeff Jensen, one of Wilson's attorneys. "Damon never had a contract with them. I don't see how Georgia thinks intimidation and litigation will help their recruitment efforts -- maybe players could bring lawyers with them to practice."



The new lawsuit filed Tuesday claims that Drummond's statement is defamatory and intended to harm Wilson's reputation. The suit also claims that Georgia, the Classic City Collective and the collective's operators committed tortious interference and civil conspiracy against Wilson.

The lawsuit states that Georgia officials told coaches at other football programs that Wilson had a "$1.2 million buyout" in an alleged attempt to dissuade other schools from recruiting him.

Wilson's lawyers argue that the three-page term sheet he signed last December is not legally binding because it isn't a full contract. The document, which was shared as part of Georgia's lawsuit, states that it will "be used to create a legal binding document."

As with all things in life - eventually it's the lawyers who benefit the most.

 

[Ispyin]

"Georgia appears intent on making an example of someone, they just picked the wrong person," said Jeff Jensen, one of Wilson's attorneys. "Damon never had a contract with them. I don't see how Georgia thinks intimidation and litigation will help their recruitment efforts -- maybe players could bring lawyers with them to practice."



The new lawsuit filed Tuesday claims that Drummond's statement is defamatory and intended to harm Wilson's reputation. The suit also claims that Georgia, the Classic City Collective and the collective's operators committed tortious interference and civil conspiracy against Wilson.

The lawsuit states that Georgia officials told coaches at other football programs that Wilson had a "$1.2 million buyout" in an alleged attempt to dissuade other schools from recruiting him.

Wilson's lawyers argue that the three-page term sheet he signed last December is not legally binding because it isn't a full contract. The document, which was shared as part of Georgia's lawsuit, states that it will "be used to create a legal binding document."

TLDR Georgia is trying to Xavier Lucas him thinking that an MOu before the house settlement was a contract

 

[caneingville]

TLDR Georgia is trying to Xavier Lucas him thinking that an MOu before the house settlement was a contract

Basically.

But it’s the countersuit allegations that I find more interesting. Remember that UW is suing us (meaning UM) for tortious interference. Here, Wilson is countersuing UGA for tortious interference.

Tortious interference requires that one first prove the existence of a valid contract, and then show that the contract was breached. Yet Wilson is first alleging that no valid contract exists.

So what they are doing is saying that there isn’t a contract, BUT if there is, UGA not only breached it, but tortuously interfered with it by telling other coaches that he had this huge buyout to try to prevent other schools from taking him in the transfer. It’s like an anti-tampering suit.

I love it, and I can’t wait to see what comes of it. Rooting all the way for Wilson here. This could help lead the way towards a CBA in CFB.

 

[caneingville]

Very interesting. I would imagine UGA would have to prove their losses?

That’s another interesting thing about this case - liquidated damages are traditionally reserved for when it is difficult for the plaintiff to calculate their damages.

They also have to be agreed to in the contract beforehand, by both parties. Georgia diverts slightly from most states in that it also has a strict three-prong test. Most of it is the same stuff you see everywhere else, except they are VERY clear that the liquidated damages that UGA is seeking here (I believe it’s ~$390K) can only be to compensate UGA for its economic losses and not in any way for retaliation.

Obviously it’s early and we’ll see how discovery goes, but if they’ve only given him $30Kish by their own admission, then what are we even doing here? It’s quite puzzling to me.

 

[CaneinBroward]

That’s another interesting thing about this case - liquidated damages are traditionally reserved for when it is difficult for the plaintiff to calculate their damages.

They also have to be agreed to in the contract beforehand, by both parties. Georgia diverts slightly from most states in that it also has a strict three-prong test. Most of it is the same stuff you see everywhere else, except they are VERY clear that the liquidated damages that UGA is seeking here (I believe it’s ~$390K) can only be to compensate UGA for its economic losses and not in any way for retaliation.

Obviously it’s early and we’ll see how discovery goes, but if they’ve only given him $30Kish by their own admission, then what are we even doing here? It’s quite puzzling to me.

Yes, I would love to see how they came to that figure ($390k). I haven't heard of UGA having trouble selling tickets, losing sponsorships, or anything of the sort. To your point in another post, the sooner they get to a CBA where these contracts are based on play on the field instead of the players' name, image, and likeness, the better. It would also help restore these non-playoff bowl games to something more than early spring games with all of these opt-outs.

 

[caneingville]

Yes, I would love to see how they came to that figure ($390k). I haven't heard of UGA having trouble selling tickets, losing sponsorships, or anything of the sort. To your point in another post, the sooner they get to a CBA where these contracts are based on play on the field instead of the players' name, image, and likeness, the better. It would also help restore these non-playoff bowl games to something more than early spring games with all of these opt-outs.

I don’t know how a school could ever prove those kinds of damages from a single player. That’s just asinine. I’m guessing they just calculated it based on the value of his scholarship and NIL package. They had to have a formula.

I personally like the idea of a CBA because I hate seeing these kids and their families being taken advantage of and having no bargaining power. The majority of these families have never dealt with major contracts like these and they deserve representation - and not slimy representatives that are also going to take advantage of them. Real representation that helps educate them for their future. And the kids deserve to have a seat at the table throughout their college careers. I want empowerment for them.