Judge Denies KU's Motion to Dismiss Ex-Coach's Suit

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The University of Kansas is entering this football season with a new coach leading the team, but former coach David Beaty still has unfinished business — and he’s taking KU to court.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports that Beaty, fired with three games remaining in the 2018 season, is seeking $3 million from Kansas Athletics Inc. A contract extension Beaty signed in 2016 allowed him to collect that amount if he were fired without cause prior to the contract expiring.

Beaty filed his lawsuit seeking the money in March, but according to the Journal-World, Kansas Athletics said that throughout the course of exit interviews with coaches and staff, it learned of “possible NCAA violations allegedly committed by Beaty.” KU claimed that if that were true, violations would be grounds for termination of Beaty’s contract — voiding his claim that he was fired without cause. 

The school sought to investigate the alleged violations, and Beaty’s attorneys claim that he cooperated and was unaware of any violations of NCAA rules that occurred under his watch. 

The school sought to dismiss Beaty’s lawsuit in a motion filed in May, claiming that Beaty and DB Sports LLC are both citizens of the state attempting to sue “an arm of the state.”

Beaty’s lawyers in July filed a response, claiming that Kansas Athletics Inc. is “a $100,000,000 company that operates without the strictures imposed by the University of Kansas.” 

Individuals are barred from suing states in federal court under the 11th Amendment to the Constitution. 

Since his firing, Beaty has reportedly relocated to Austin, Texas. 

Beaty posted an overall record of 6-42 as the head coach of the Jayhawks, and had three years remaining on his extension at the time of his firing.

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