🏈 Chavis suing LSU and Texas A&M

[UAgrad93]

Former LSU DC john Chavis is suing his former employer and his current employer. It seems the buyout in his contract is the sticking point.

Just when LSU fans thought they were done with John Chavis the former Tiger defensive coordinator is squaring off with LSU again, along with his current employer Texas A&M.

According to a report filed by KBTX in College Station, Chavis has filed a lawsuit against LSU and Texas A&M over his contract with LSU.

The issue is over Chavis’ $400,000 buyout for leaving LSU before his contract expired. The report also states that Chavis feels that Texas A&M is obligated to pay all or some of the buyout if he is responsible for it.

"Based on Chavis' notice of termination on January 5, 2015, the 'termination date' according to the Amendment was effective thirty days after the written notice served to LSU or (sic) February 4, 2015, which falls within the 11th month remaining on Chavis' Employment Agreement," reads the suit.

According to Chavis, he does not owe LSU $400,000 as a result.

LSU, on the other hand, feels that Chavis does owe the $400,000 so this one will likely be settled in court unless an agreement is reached between all parties.


How can this end well for the Aggies and Sumlin? Your defense has sucked azz, so you go out and get you a top notch DC. Now your new DC that is supposed to save your job, is suing your school. Gonna be some trust issues!!!

 

[Bamabww]

Interesting. Chavis has a set of stones to sue both his previous employer and his present employer at the same time. This can't end well for him or Sumlin.

My former employer had a provision in their employee handbook that detailed what happened if an employee sued them. In short, you couldn't be employed by them if you had a lawsuit against them.

 

[planomateo]

I'd love to see the Aggies spend more money...

An LSU blog's perspective on the subject http://www.andthevalleyshook.com/2015/2/27/8124257/chavis-sues-lsu

 

[TerryP]

His lawyer will look like he's got things well under control with both LSU and A&M thinking they're about to lose...until the last minute.

 

[sean]

The report also states that Chavis feels that Texas A&M is obligated to pay all or some of the buyout if he is responsible for it.

it doesn't matter how or what he feels. if it's not in his contract (former or present) then they aren't responsible for it at all. he needs to learn how to read and comprehend a contract and should never sign another one until he does.

 

[XXL TideFan]

I love me some turmoil and strife in the rest of the west.

 

[rolltide69]

Sumlin will be gone after this year, maybe Chavis will be the new Head Coach at A & M. I guess they could bring back Johnny Football.

 

[red55]

"Based on Chavis' notice of termination on January 5, 2015, the 'termination date' according to the Amendment was effective thirty days after the written notice served to LSU or (sic) February 4, 2015, which falls within the 11th month remaining on Chavis' Employment Agreement," reads the suit.

According to Chavis, he does not owe LSU $400,000 as a result.

During that month that Chavis insists he was employed by LSU, he was observed recruiting for A&M and tweeted about being the new DC at A&M. Good luck convincing a judge that he was employed by LSU at the time. Moreover, Chavis filed the suit in a Texas court even though it involves a Louisiana University, a Louisiana state employee, and a Louisiana contract. I suspect the judge will rule that the case needs to be filed in Louisiana.

And I'm astonished that Chavis would sue the place that just hired him to pay for the legal costs of his leaving his last job. Who the hell does that? I suspect it's a guy who plans to retire when his contract expires.

 

[Bamabww]

A&M's John Chavis files buyout suit
Updated: February 28, 2015, 6:11 PM ET
By Sam Khan Jr. | ESPN.com

John Chavis Suing Texas A&M, LSU
ESPN.com SEC reporter Sam Khan Jr. reports the latest on Texas A&M defensive coordinator John Chavis, who has sued both LSU and Texas A&M over a buyout he claims he doesn't owe.

Texas A&M defensive coordinator John Chavis has sued both his former employer, LSU, and his current one over a buyout he claims he doesn't owe.

In a lawsuit filed Friday in Brazos County, Texas, Chavis claims he doesn't owe LSU a $400,000 buyout the university is seeking from him for terminating his contract with the Tigers. Chavis left LSU for the same post at Texas A&M earlier this year.




Derick E. Hingle/USA TODAY Sports
John Chavis said in a lawsuit filed Friday that he doesn't owe LSU a $400,000 buyout the university is seeking from him.


According to the lawsuit, LSU athletic director Joe Alleva sent a letter to Chavis on Jan. 2 demanding he pay a $400,000 buyout to the school in accordance with a section of Chavis' contract. The suit says Chavis gave written notice to LSU to terminate his contract Jan. 5. Chavis also claims that, according to his LSU contract, his "termination date" was effective 30 days after his termination notice, which would make Feb. 4 the effective date. Chavis' final LSU contract ran through Dec. 31, 2015, and called for the buyout to go from $400,000 to zero if the contract was terminated in the final 11 months.

If it is determined that Chavis owes the buyout -- or any amount of "liquidated damages" to LSU -- Texas A&M is obligated to pay that amount, as of Feb. 12, according to the lawsuit. Texas A&M is named as a defendant in the suit because of that obligation.

"Coach Chavis could not be happier to be the defensive coordinator at Texas A&M," Chavis' attorney, Bill Youngkin, said in a written statement Saturday. "He looks forward to the start of spring practice on Monday and is excited about coaching the Aggies this fall. Texas A&M was included in the lawsuit because it is an indispensable party and its inclusion is necessary to resolve the dispute LSU has created."

Said Texas A&M senior associate athletic director for external affairs Jason Cook in a statement Friday evening: "There is not a dispute between Coach Chavis and Texas A&M. The university stands behind its commitment to Coach Chavis to pay any buyout due to LSU. The issue is that Texas A&M disagrees with LSU that any buyout payment is actually due."

LSU said in a statement Friday night that it would seek to have the lawsuit dismissed.

"The state of Texas is not a proper venue to decide a contractual dispute between Louisiana State University and one of its former coaches, and LSU will pursue immediate dismissal of Chavis' suit," the school said. "LSU has also initiated a legal action against Chavis in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to recover the $400,000 buy-out owed to LSU by Chavis. LSU regrets that what is ordinarily a simple matter must be resolved in litigation, but it will vigorously defend the contractual and constitutional rights of the University."

Chavis wasn't officially named Texas A&M's defensive coordinator until February, but he could be seen in photos landing at Easterwood Airport in College Station, Texas, with Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin on Jan. 1, and visiting recruits in Texas A&M attire in January after he sent his written notice to LSU.

The lawsuit states that Chavis moved to Bryan, Texas, and purchased a home there after sending LSU his termination notice Jan. 5.

KBTX.com earlier reported Chavis' filing of the lawsuit.

http://espn.go.com/college-football...nsive-coordinator-john-chavis-sues-lsu-buyout