Rodriguez
Garrison
MORGANTOWN – Lawyers for former West Virginia University football coach Rich Rodriguez will depose WVU President Mike Garrison on June 12 at a secret spot.
Black bars obscure the location in a deposition notice at Monongalia Circuit Court, but nothing can hide the potential for conflict as the questioning unfolds.
Rodriguez has asked Garrison to bring every document relating to his coaching contract, and the university has branded many requests as irrelevant or repetitive.
On a sore spot, Rodriguez wants to see every communication Garrison received from the West Virginia University Foundation or its Mountaineer Club since Dec. 15, 2006.
Rodriguez tried to add the Foundation as a third party defendant when he countersued the university in their $4 million dispute, but Circuit Judge Robert dismissed the foundation from the case.
University attorney Jaclyn Bryk of Charleston on June 2 objected to the request for communications from the foundation.
Bryk also objected to a request for all documents in connection with Rodriguez's contract, his resignation and verbal commitments the university made to him.
She also objected to production of Garrison's personal notes, "of every kind and nature," in connection with the contract.
She did not object to a request for all documents concerning information the athletic department gave to news media about Rodriguez since Dec. 1, 2006.
Rodriguez resigned Dec. 19 to coach the University of Michigan football program.
The university sued him Dec. 27 to enforce a buyout clause in his contract.
He countersued, claiming Garrison and others broke verbal promises that accompanied the contract.
He tried to add the West Virginia University Foundation to the case, but he failed.
The foundation has moved to recover costs and legal fees from Rodriguez, and Stone has set a hearing June 23.