TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — An appellate court panel on Monday unanimously allowed Florida State University to proceed with a lawsuit against the Atlantic Coast Conference in the latest twist in a two-state legal battle over issues such as sports media rights.
Monday’s ruling was rooted in dueling lawsuits filed in December over what is widely believed to be Florida State’s desire to leave the ACC to join a more lucrative sports conference — and the possibility that the university would face hefty financial penalties if it makes such a move.
Attorneys for FSU contend that the conference, which filed a lawsuit in North Carolina one day before Florida State filed its lawsuit in December in Leon County, rushed to court without getting approval from member schools. FSU said the conference made the move because it was anticipating the lawsuit filed by Florida State’s Board of Trustees…