Post by spook on Jul 8, 2008 14:12:25 GMT -5
Judge says injunction unlikely in lawsuit over UO wrestling
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
BOAZ HERZOG
The Oregonian Staff
A Marion County Circuit judge indicated he was not inclined to issue an injunction that would delay the elimination of the University of Oregon's wrestling program, officials said Monday.
Equity in Athletics in Oregon, a nonprofit organization that filed a lawsuit against the university on behalf of the Oregon wrestling team, was pushing for the injunction during a four-hour court hearing Monday in Salem. The group's lawsuit claims the university didn't go through the correct process in cutting the wrestling program after the 2007-08 season and that its decision one year ago to do so was against state law and Oregon University System policy.
Judge Lynn Ashcroft allowed attorneys for the nonprofit more time to submit additional evidence but said he will likely issue a written ruling on the proposed injunction within a few days, said Jake Weigler, a spokesman for the Oregon Department of Justice, which is representing the university.
The judge's initial inclination to rule against the injunction "means the arguments we made today were fairly compelling," Weigler said.
But plaintiffs in the case drew optimism from the judge's desire to quickly get to the case's merits. The case was scheduled to go to trial Sept. 8.
"What matters is the final judgment," said Lawrence Joseph, an attorney representing the wrestlers. "If we get a final decision by September, that's as good as a preliminary injunction to us."
Boaz Herzog: 503-412-7072; boherzog@gmail.com
www.oregonlive.com/ducks/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/1215487515291830.xml&coll=7
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
BOAZ HERZOG
The Oregonian Staff
A Marion County Circuit judge indicated he was not inclined to issue an injunction that would delay the elimination of the University of Oregon's wrestling program, officials said Monday.
Equity in Athletics in Oregon, a nonprofit organization that filed a lawsuit against the university on behalf of the Oregon wrestling team, was pushing for the injunction during a four-hour court hearing Monday in Salem. The group's lawsuit claims the university didn't go through the correct process in cutting the wrestling program after the 2007-08 season and that its decision one year ago to do so was against state law and Oregon University System policy.
Judge Lynn Ashcroft allowed attorneys for the nonprofit more time to submit additional evidence but said he will likely issue a written ruling on the proposed injunction within a few days, said Jake Weigler, a spokesman for the Oregon Department of Justice, which is representing the university.
The judge's initial inclination to rule against the injunction "means the arguments we made today were fairly compelling," Weigler said.
But plaintiffs in the case drew optimism from the judge's desire to quickly get to the case's merits. The case was scheduled to go to trial Sept. 8.
"What matters is the final judgment," said Lawrence Joseph, an attorney representing the wrestlers. "If we get a final decision by September, that's as good as a preliminary injunction to us."
Boaz Herzog: 503-412-7072; boherzog@gmail.com
www.oregonlive.com/ducks/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/1215487515291830.xml&coll=7