May 11, 2004

Lawyer involved in NCAA lawsuit found beaten

As reported on CNNSI.com

A lawyer for a former Alabama assistant coach suing the NCAA was attacked in his office and had key case documents stolen.

Police wouldn't say if Friday's attack that left Memphis lawyer Philip Shanks unconscious is related to his representation of Ronnie Cottrell in a federal criminal investigation of the recruiting scandal that landed Alabama on NCAA probation.

Shanks has also been involved in preparing a civil suit for Cottrell and another former Alabama assistant, Ivy Williams, against the NCAA.

The suit charges that University of Tennessee boosters and football coach Phillip Fulmer were involved in a conspiracy with the NCAA targeting the Alabama sports program.

Shanks, who says he has been threatened before over the matter, said the attacker took his wallet, checkbook, some of his Alabama football memorabilia and case files.

Shanks says was found early Friday morning in the Memphis-area office by his secretary. He has since been released from the hospital.

Shanks has been outspoken about the lawsuit charging that University of Tennessee boosters conspired with the NCAA.

Memphis Police Department spokeswoman Rhonda Lee said it's not clear if the robbery was related to the Alabama case.

"We're still investigating exactly what was taken from his office," she said.

In October 2003, Shanks told Germantown police that someone broke into his home and took his briefcase containing legal documents related to the lawsuit.

Shanks told The Birmingham News that in another incident a Tennessee graduate threatened him over the lawsuit.

"The guy walked down the street, knocked on my door and said he was going to kill me and [my dog]," Shanks said.

Tommy Gallion, a Montgomery attorney representing Cottrell in the suit against the NCAA, said he receives threats "all the time" over the case.

"I just take them as disgruntled fans," Gallion said. "I've never taken them seriously. I'll take them serious now."

Note: You know, it's a sad day when someone has to act out on a lawyer doing his job, just because your school screwed up. I hope they find this bum, and I hope they don't show him any compassion.

Posted by Lloyd Severence

 

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Comments & Trackbacks

1. Pete Holiday says:

   posted on May 11, 2004 02:11 AM — link

   You know... this doesn't surprise me at all... my only question is whether it was an NCAA Goon or a UT Fan...

   ...of course, what's the difference, really?

2. Tim Folmar says:

   posted on September 19, 2004 01:25 AM — link

   I am disipointed at the lack of real information available to the public on this case an the eforts of so many of the parties involved in preventing all the facts from becoming public.If we,the fans of this game of football are going to continue to believe in and support college football as a sport and in the organizations in place to regulate it then we must be given the facts as determined by our legal system which,by law, has the final say in the matter.