By Florida State and the ACC met for their court-ordered mediation on Aug. 13 and did not reach an agreement. But their settlement talks aren’t over.
In a joint filing Tuesday in Leon County, the sides said they will “continue discussions.”
Their update was necessary after Judge John C. Cooper gave them a 120-day mediation deadline during an April 22 hearing at the Leon County Courthouse. Further details about the in-person meeting were not included in the brief filing.
It is, however, notable given the ongoing legal fight between FSU and its conference home of more than three decades.
The litigation centers on how much money FSU must pay if it leaves the ACC. The conference’s constitution calls for a withdrawal payment of about $140 million; FSU contends that fee is unenforceable. The sides also are arguing over who owns future TV rights if/when the Seminoles exit. The value for those rights puts the dispute’s total price tag at more than half a billion dollars, according to FSU’s estimates.
In an order signed Aug. 13, the Tallahassee judge gave the ACC 20 days to respond to FSU’s second amended complaint against the conference. He set a 30-day deadline for pending discovery requests.
The next scheduled court date is Sept. 11 at Florida’s First District Court of Appeal. A three-judge panel will hear oral arguments over what the ACC has called a “judicial foul” from a previous ruling that allowed FSU’s suit to proceed in Leon County.
The school and conference also are fighting in North Carolina, where the ACC sued Florida State. FSU has appealed a ruling there to that state’s supreme court. Clemson and the ACC have filed their own separate but similar dueling lawsuits against each other in their home courts.
• • •
Sign up for the Sports Today newsletter to get daily updates on the Bucs, Rays, Lightning and college football across Florida.
Never miss out on the latest with your favorite Tampa Bay sports teams. Follow our coverage on Instagram, X and Facebook.
