Knight taking IU to court

Former IU men's basketball coach Bob Knight filed a lawsuit in the Monroe County Circuit Court Tuesday naming IU as the defendant in a civil suit for more than $2 million in damages. The suit, filed by the law firm of Voyles, Zahn, Paul, Hogan and Merriman in Indianapolis, claims IU breached a clause in Knight's contract stating that Knight could only be fired after being notified in writing of any such decision and after having the chance to mount a defense to his firing. \nThough Knight was paid for the time remaining on his contract when he was fired, the suit is seeking damages for lost wages due to lost income not specifically listed on his contract, such as his "television and radio programs, his basketball camp, his shoe contract and various endorsements, and other related items." \nIU released a statement Tuesday in response to the lawsuit.\n"Indiana University disagrees with the allegations made in the complaint," the statement said. "The University has fulfilled all of its obligations under the contract it had with Mr. Knight." IU spokeswoman Jane Jankowski said though the University will "defend its interests vigorously," she was not made aware of any specifics of the case or details of procedure from the University's lawyers.\n"The statement speaks for itself," she said. "Indiana University had the right to remove Mr. Knight as the coach."\nJankowski also said that the pending litigation will have no effect on IU President Myles Brand's recent appointment to the presidency of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.\nWhen Knight was fired in September of 2000, Brand said it was for "gross insubordination" and for violating a "zero tolerance" policy that had been put in place for Knight's previous conduct. According to the lawsuit, however, the "Zero Tolerance" policy had no bearing on the contract that IU and Knight agreed to in 1982 or the contract extension in 1991. The suit also argues the circumstances of the accusation of gross insubordination. Knight said he and Brand had agreed to meet by phone during Knight's September 2000 Canadian vacation rather than in person. Brand, in the press conference held to publicly declare Knight's firing, said Knight refused to cancel his plans for vacation and meet in person as requested.\nKnight's Lawyer, Russell Yates, could not be reached for comment at press time.