Legal Proceedings Continue in Leon County Courthouse: FSU vs. ACC

Florida State University and the Atlantic Coast Conference were back in court on Monday for a hearing regarding the ACC’s motion to dismiss the case brought by the FSU Board of Trustees. The legal proceedings were led by Judge John C. Cooper, with both legal teams present in the courtroom.

The day started with discussions on the motion to dismiss, venue, ripeness, and jurisdiction – a central part of the case due to legal proceedings happening simultaneously in Florida and North Carolina. The ACC was the first to file suit, but Judge Cooper made it clear he did not agree with their race to the courthouse being grounds for jurisdiction.

The ACC conceded on venue, but ripeness was denied as the case is asking for a declaration of contract terms currently in dispute. FSU is alleging multiple breaches but has not formally withdrawn from the league.

The hot topic of the day was jurisdiction, with FSU arguing that the ACC’s business in Florida constitutes grounds for jurisdiction. However, Judge Cooper felt that the current amended complaint lacked clarity and specificity on this matter.

Cooper ruled that FSU must amend their complaint before the motion to dismiss can proceed. A stay on discovery was granted until the jurisdiction issue is properly addressed. The case is ongoing, with the next court date to be set after the amended complaint is filed.

Cooper also ordered mediation between the two parties within the next 120 days, pushing them to discuss and resolve the issues at hand. The outcome of the day was dismissal with leave to amend, indicating that this legal battle is far from over.