Cottrell Law Suit

[nomsduckhunter]

Judge dismisses most of Cottrell law suit

Montgomery Advertiser


Tuscaloosa Circuit Court Judge Steve Wilson put a severe dent in the $60 million defamation lawsuit filed by two former Alabama assistant coaches against the NCAA and others in a pretrial hearing today.

Just four days before the trial begins, Wilson dismissed the majority of the complaints by former Crimson Tide assistants Ronnie Cottrell and Ivy Williams in a legal saga that has spanned nearly two years. The lawsuit stemmed from an NCAA investigation that landed the Alabama football program on five years of probation.

Wilson threw out all claims of conspiracy and negligence against the plaintiffs. The claims that remain are the libel and slander allegations against recruiting analyst Tom Culpepper and a defamation and invasion of privacy claim by Williams against the NCAA.

Cottrell told the Montgomery Advertiser late this afternoon that he was not deterred by the ruling.

"I'm still going to be there on Monday to fight the fight," he said in an interview at Carroll-Ozark High School, where he is the new head football coach. "I'm just thankful a jury will at least still hear this case."

The trial is still scheduled to start Monday in Tuscaloosa, although the plaintiffs say they will appeal today's decision to the Alabama Supreme Court.



http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/NEWSV5/storyV5break2_07.htm

Let's get this over with, too close to football season.