The Athletic from the New York Times: Three Schools Sue Mountain West Alleging Withheld Money, ‘Fraud’ in Grand Canyon Move

O’Melveny has filed a second amended complaint in Colorado state court against the Mountain West Conference on behalf of Boise State University, Colorado State University, and Utah State University. The complaint further advances the universities’ lawsuit against the Mountain West Conference, which O’Melveny initially filed on behalf of the universities in December 2024. The 37-page filing also adds Mountain West commissioner Gloria Nevarez as a defendant. The lawsuit accuses the league and its commissioner of “intentionally and fraudulently” depriving the schools of their membership rights and causing millions of dollars in harm while “impacting the rights and opportunities of Plaintiffs’ student-athletes for their last year in the Conference.” The schools are now seeking damages in the latest complaint. “We are disappointed that the Mountain West continues to improperly retaliate against the departing members and their student-athletes,” said O’Melveny partner Steve Olson, co-chair of the firm’s Litigation Department. The O’Melveny team is also led by partners Matthew Cowan and Timothy Heafner. This story was also covered by The Salt Lake Tribune, CBS Sports, Sports Business Journal, The Press, and Super West Sports.

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