Big East v. ESPN - Tortious Interference

[BullyPulpit]

I just don't think it would have any resolution that would help the Big East survive or protect their own interests. Just seems like an easy case to defend.

It wouldn't be an easy case to defend if it can be shown that ESPN interfered with existing contractual relationships in the Big East. Additionally, the resulting damages of losing TCU and WVU could be attributed to the tortious interference. If this was put in front of the right Federal Court judge the Big East would have a decent case, IMO.

Wouldn't this depend on if there was a clause in the contract to not talk to other conferences about changing membership, which certainly there must not have been? Not to mention that each team has negotiated a buyout so that takes care of the contractual relationship.

Below are the generally recognized elements of tortious interference. While there might be contractual terms that prevent the conference from suing a member for breach of contract, this deals with a third party (ESPN) asserting undue influence in an attempt to interfere with the existing business relationship to the detriment of the Big East and for their own pecuniary gain.

• The existence of a contractual relationship or beneficial business relationship between two parties.
  
• Knowledge of that relationship by a third party.
  
• Intent of the third party to induce a party to the relationship to breach the relationship.
  
• Lack of any privilege on the part of the third party to induce such a breach.
  
• The contractual relationship is breached.
  
• Damage to the party against whom the breach occurs.
  

[Mama_Bull]

If contact negotiations end up falling through between the Big East and ESPN, I would love to see the brass in Providence sack up and file a Tortious Interference suit against ESPN. Based upon everything that we have seen and heard, I feel pretty confident that the Big East would prevail in a suit against ESPN. From the poaching of Pitt and Syracuse by the ACC (ESPN's involvement has already been alluded to by Boston College reps) to the defection of Notre Dame, ESPN seemingly has their fingerprints all over these moves. At the very least, the discovery process would be very interesting and would shed light on how all of this maneuvering went down.

+1

[Bulls1181]

In this electronic age, unless ESPN was communicating via courier pigeons there will be a paper-trail. You want to see a University President or AD squirm....just set them for deposition. I have insight into the Plancher v. UCF case and I know all about the athletic department depos and what transpired. A capable attorney will get the information out of them.

A quick UCF synopsis would be nice..

[BullyPulpit]

In this electronic age, unless ESPN was communicating via courier pigeons there will be a paper-trail. You want to see a University President or AD squirm....just set them for deposition. I have insight into the Plancher v. UCF case and I know all about the athletic department depos and what transpired. A capable attorney will get the information out of them.

A quick UCF synopsis would be nice..

I knew members at the law firm that represented the Plancher family. I really can't divulge more than that.

[Bulls1181]

In this electronic age, unless ESPN was communicating via courier pigeons there will be a paper-trail. You want to see a University President or AD squirm....just set them for deposition. I have insight into the Plancher v. UCF case and I know all about the athletic department depos and what transpired. A capable attorney will get the information out of them.

A quick UCF synopsis would be nice..

I knew members at the law firm that represented the Plancher family. I really can't divulge more than that.

No worries!

[smazza]

Looking like sour grapes < doing what you need to do to survive and/or protect your interests

ahhhhhhh

now you need a lawyer

when in trouble people

call a lawyer

[GaUSFBull]

Looking like sour grapes < doing what you need to do to survive and/or protect your interests

ahhhhhhh

now you need a lawyer

when in trouble people

call a lawyer

Lawyers aren't all bad.

[Matt]

In this electronic age, unless ESPN was communicating via courier pigeons there will be a paper-trail. You want to see a University President or AD squirm....just set them for deposition. I have insight into the Plancher v. UCF case and I know all about the athletic department depos and what transpired. A capable attorney will get the information out of them.

A quick UCF synopsis would be nice..

I knew members at the law firm that represented the Plancher family. I really can't divulge more than that.

well it's nice to know that either members of the Yerrid Law Firm or Pitisci, Dowell, Markowitz, & Murphy law firm like to share private case information to friends.

[Matt]

Looking like sour grapes < doing what you need to do to survive and/or protect your interests

ahhhhhhh

now you need a lawyer

when in trouble people

call a lawyer

yea Steve, when my teeth hurt i call a dentist. Doesn't mean I like to deal with them either

[gobulls83]

Looking like sour grapes < doing what you need to do to survive and/or protect your interests

ahhhhhhh

now you need a lawyer

when in trouble people

call a lawyer

If the Big East needs lawyers, I hope they find ones that can type in complete sentences, use punctuation, and capitalize letters where appropriate.