A three-judge panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal will hear arguments Sept. 11 in an attempt by the Atlantic Coast Conference to put on hold a lawsuit filed by Florida State University as a two-state legal battle continues over issues such as sports media rights.
The appeals court issued a notice Monday scheduling the arguments. The conference filed a lawsuit in December in North Carolina against FSU, a day before the university sued the conference in Leon County circuit court.
Both cases deal with similar issues, as FSU is widely viewed as wanting to leave the ACC to move to a more-lucrative conference.
The university essentially contends the ACC has shortchanged its members through television contracts and that the school would face exorbitant financial penalties if it leaves.
The ACC, which is based in North Carolina, went to the Tallahassee-based appeals court in June as it seeks a stay of the lawsuit filed in Leon County. The conference argues that its lawsuit filed in North Carolina should take priority over the Florida case.
The conference’s petition to the appeals court came after Leon County Circuit Judge John Cooper refused to halt the Florida case.
The Sept. 11 hearing is slated to be held by Judges Joseph Lewis, M. Kemmerly Thomas and Rachel Nordby, according to the notice.
