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The ACC submitted a brief on Tuesday in a North Carolina court opposing Florida State’s motion to dismiss or delay their ongoing case, marking the latest development before the scheduled hearing on March 22, where both sides will present their arguments before a judge.
Legal Dispute Background
In the Tuesday brief, the ACC reiterated its stance that North Carolina is the appropriate venue for resolving the dispute, emphasizing the significance of adjudicating a North Carolina contract matter in the state.
ACC vs. Florida State Lawsuits
The ACC filed a lawsuit against the Florida State board of trustees on December 21, seeking declaratory judgment to defend the grant of rights, Just one day before the Florida State board filed its own lawsuit against the ACC, challenging both the grant of rights and the associated $130 million withdrawal fee.
The grant of rights agreement binds Florida State and all other ACC members until 2036, coinciding with the league’s television contract with ESPN. This agreement grants the conference control over its media rights, including television revenue and home-game broadcasts across all sports.
Additionally, any school seeking to leave the ACC would have to pay an exit fee equal to three times the league’s operating budget, which is approximately $130 million.
Response to Florida State’s Arguments
In response to the ACC’s lawsuit, the Florida State board of trustees argued that the ACC’s legal action was a “race to the courthouse” and “fundamentally flawed.” However, in its Tuesday brief, the ACC countered, asserting that it had no option but to file its lawsuit first to safeguard its interests and the grant of rights.
“There is nothing improper about a party seeking to protect its rights by filing first,” the ACC argued.
Furthermore, the ACC argued against deferring the case to the Florida court, as requested by Florida State, contending that “FSU has not met its burden to show substantial injustice.”
The ACC has filed its own motion to dismiss or delay the case in Leon County, Florida. However, no court hearing has been scheduled for this matter yet.
This report used information from ESPN.
