Fans' lawsuit goes on

Lawyers for a group of basketball fans suing IU's trustees over Bob Knight's firing have expanded their lawsuit to accuse the panel of meeting secretly to discuss budget issues.\nThe new allegation filed this week says trustees discussed the University budget in the same kind of "serial meetings" that preceded Knight's September 2000 firing.\nThe court filings do not specify when such budget meetings occurred.\nA lawsuit filed by 46 IU basketball fans claimed IU President Myles Brand broke the state's Open Door Law when he met twice with four trustees the day before Knight's firing.\nThe University argues that the meetings were not required to be open because fewer than half of the nine trustees attended each one.\nIU has not disputed that Brand has met in the past with small groups of trustees to discuss the budget and other matters.\nThe University has argued that such meetings are legal under Indiana law, which requires that any meeting of at least a majority of a public body be held either in open session or take place as a duly announced executive session.\nIndiana's State Public Access Counselor Anne Mullin O'Connor said current Indiana law supports IU's position.\n"If there is not a majority present, it doesn't trigger the law," O'Connor said. "Now, would I encourage a group to do this? I would discourage it."\nNo trial date has been set in the case, which is being heard by Clark County Judge Cecile Blau in Monroe Circuit Court.\nCourts routinely allow plaintiffs to amend complaints by motions such as the one filed this week.\nThe motion seeking to expand the lawsuit comes after plaintiffs' lawyers took depositions June 18 from Brand, Vice President Terry Clapacs, University Counsel Dorothy Frapwell and former spokesman Christopher Simpson.