Current:Home > ScamsKansas incurred $10 million in legal fees defending NCAA men's basketball infractions case-DB Wealth Institute B2 Reviews & Ratings
Kansas incurred $10 million in legal fees defending NCAA men's basketball infractions case
lotradecoin trading competition updates View Date:2024-12-26 04:01:13
Four outside law firms Kansas athletics department used while defending its NCAA infractions case combined to cost more than $10 million, but according to a spokesperson the department assumed all costs related to the case.
The four firms – Bond, Schoeneck & King, Husch Blackwell, Hogan Lovells; and Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman – participated across varying times on the case that was resolved in 2023 and concerned both the men’s basketball and football programs. The Kansas public records office provided The Topeka Capital-Journal with an estimate in December of an average of about $2.2 million each of the past five fiscal years and about $70,000 during the current fiscal year, in addition to 1,575 pages of documents related to outside legal fees amassed in relation to the case.
“I think it was obviously pretty established by the time I got to KU, as to the approach and to the notion that we were going to — I don’t want to say spare no resources — but to an extent spare few resources to make sure we had all the right expertise and experience to help us navigate it,” Travis Goff, who became the Kansas athletics director in 2021, said last month. “Going from the NCAA infractions approach to the IARP (Independent Accountability Resolution Process), which was really an unprecedented process, I think warranted additional kind of layers from the legal team perspective.”
Kansas men’s basketball was put on probation and ordered to take down its 2018 Final Four banner as a result of the case, which centered on violations stemming from a 2017federalinvestigation into college basketball corruption. Head coach Bill Self and assistant coach Kurtis Townsend also served a four-game suspension in 2022. The independent panel created by the NCAA to handle complex cases downgraded the most serious allegations lodged against the program. The case involved whether two representatives of apparel company Adidas were acting as boosters when they arranged payments to steer recruits to Kansas. The penalties were not as harsh as the allegations could have brought.
ON THE CASE:The powerhouse legal team that defended Kansas basketball
BREAK DOWN:Where $10M in outside legal fees paid by Kansas went
The Topeka Capital-Journal posed the question about whether Kansas athletics received assistance in paying the outside legal fees from university funds because not all the invoices in the documents provided specifically named someone with the department, or even the department itself.
The ones for Bond, Schoeneck & King did. For invoices related to the NCAA men's basketball investigation, Megan Walawender was mentioned along with a related location. Walawender was referred to as "Corporate Counsel for KAI" and currently on the Kansas athletics website is listed as a deputy athletics director for compliance and legal affairs.
But Hogan Lovells invoices listed the University of Kansas Medical Center and an address in Kansas City, Kansas. Hogan Lovells invoices routinely referenced "NCAA Proceeding."
Husch Blackwell invoices listed an address on Jayhawk Boulevard in Lawrence. Its invoices referenced the NCAA in a few different ways — "NCAA infractions - (redacted)," "(redacted)/NCAA" and "NCAA Hearing Football."
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman listed the same address Husch Blackwell did and went as far as to specify KU's Strong Hall. There were also times when people affiliated with KU's legal affairs were named. Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman's work routinely referred to the "NCAA Infractions Investigation."
The Kansas athletics spokesperson's explanation included that Walawender has also had other responsibilities with the university, other places Walawender has spent time and therefore other places Walawender could have been reached. For example, on the website for KU's general counsel's office Walawender is also listed as a senior associate general counsel. That office has a few different locations: two of those are at the addresses Hogan Lovells, Husch Blackwell and Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman listed.
Also, each law firm provided the option of paying electronically or wiring funds to pay.
veryGood! (7)
Related
- Ranking MLB jersey advertisements: Whose patch is least offensive?
- Alabama averts disaster with late defensive stop against South Carolina
- The Lands’ End 50% off Sitewide Sale Is Jaw-Dropping – $27 Flannels, $36 Rain Jackets, $44 Jeans & More
- North West Reveals Fake Name She Uses With Her Friends
- Demi Lovato opens up about how 'daddy issues' led her to chase child stardom, success
- Ohio State-Oregon, Oklahoma-Texas lead college football's Week 7 games to watch
- 'SNL' fact check: How much of 'Saturday Night' film is real?
- Nick Cannon Details Attending Diddy Party at 16
- Clint Eastwood's Son Scott Shares How Family Is Doing After Death of Christina Sandera
- Should I rake my leaves? It might be more harmful than helpful. Here's why
Ranking
- NASA Shares Update on Astronauts Stuck Indefinitely in Space
- Prepare for Hurricane Milton: with these tech tips for natural disasters
- Pregnant Elle King Shares Update on Her Relationship With Dad Rob Schneider
- Erin Andrews Reveals Why She's Nervous to Try for Another Baby
- Efforts to return remains, artifacts to US tribes get $3 million in funding
- How good is Derrick Henry? Even NFL legend Eric Dickerson is struck by Ravens RB
- Mount Everest Mystery Solved 100 Years Later as Andrew Sandy Irvine's Remains Believed to Be Found
- Erin Andrews Reveals Why She's Nervous to Try for Another Baby
Recommendation
-
2025 COLA estimate dips with inflation, but high daily expenses still burn seniors
-
Climate Change Made Hurricane Milton Stronger, With Heavier Rain, Scientists Conclude
-
Appeals court overturns contempt finding, removes judge in Texas foster care lawsuit
-
Fossil Fuel Interests Are Working To Kill Solar in One Ohio County. The Hometown Newspaper Is Helping
-
Head of Theodore Roosevelt National Park departs North Dakota job
-
Pregnant Elle King Shares Update on Her Relationship With Dad Rob Schneider
-
Oregon’s most populous county adds gas utility to $51B climate suit against fossil fuel companies
-
North West proves she's mini Ye in Q&A with mom Kim Kardashian: 'That's not a fun fact'