Mr. SWAC
F*** THE LAKERS!!!!!!
Birmingham News
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Judge rules against Washington
06/11/02
SOLOMON CRENSHAW JR.
News staff writer
The Southwestern Athletic Conference was justified in firing Rudy Washington, according to a ruling last week in the former commissioner's lawsuit against the league.
"This court concludes that the SWAC had just cause in its decision to terminate Washington's employment effective June 8, 2001," retired Circuit Judge Marvin Cherner wrote in his June 6 ruling.
Acting SWAC Commissioner James Frank said the conference is pleased with the ruling.
"I wouldn't use the word vindicated but we never did anything wrong in the first place," Frank said. "It just shows that the allegations made by Mr. Washington were completely, I would say, outlandish, false and without merit."
Frank said the ruling by Cherner, who stepped in after the retirement of Judge Jack Carl, appears to bring the case to an end.
There is, however, the matter of a counterclaim filed by SWAC against Washington. Frank says the SWAC is still seeking $99,000 it contends Washington owes the league.
"I would think we would recover those damages that are included in the counterclaim," Frank said.
SWAC lawyer Kenneth Thomas said the conference is seeking all money that Washington could not document he was due. That includes money SWAC says Washington was overpaid and did not pay back.
Thomas said Washington has the option of appealing the ruling. Efforts to reach Washington's lawyers were unsuccessful.
Cherner said in his ruling that Washington failed to explain or give further details of the checks and cash paid him totaling about $44,000, except to say that it was reimbursement of travel or other expenses. He also wrote that Washington could not without approval give himself a raise and that SWAC was not guilty of breach of contract, as he alleged.
Washington and the SWAC still must settle who owes who. The parties have until June 28 to respond.
............................................................
? More From Today's Birmingham News
Sports News
Judge rules against Washington
06/11/02
SOLOMON CRENSHAW JR.
News staff writer
The Southwestern Athletic Conference was justified in firing Rudy Washington, according to a ruling last week in the former commissioner's lawsuit against the league.
"This court concludes that the SWAC had just cause in its decision to terminate Washington's employment effective June 8, 2001," retired Circuit Judge Marvin Cherner wrote in his June 6 ruling.
Acting SWAC Commissioner James Frank said the conference is pleased with the ruling.
"I wouldn't use the word vindicated but we never did anything wrong in the first place," Frank said. "It just shows that the allegations made by Mr. Washington were completely, I would say, outlandish, false and without merit."
Frank said the ruling by Cherner, who stepped in after the retirement of Judge Jack Carl, appears to bring the case to an end.
There is, however, the matter of a counterclaim filed by SWAC against Washington. Frank says the SWAC is still seeking $99,000 it contends Washington owes the league.
"I would think we would recover those damages that are included in the counterclaim," Frank said.
SWAC lawyer Kenneth Thomas said the conference is seeking all money that Washington could not document he was due. That includes money SWAC says Washington was overpaid and did not pay back.
Thomas said Washington has the option of appealing the ruling. Efforts to reach Washington's lawyers were unsuccessful.
Cherner said in his ruling that Washington failed to explain or give further details of the checks and cash paid him totaling about $44,000, except to say that it was reimbursement of travel or other expenses. He also wrote that Washington could not without approval give himself a raise and that SWAC was not guilty of breach of contract, as he alleged.
Washington and the SWAC still must settle who owes who. The parties have until June 28 to respond.
