LSU player served court papers related to Ole Miss lawsuit in latest twist to Rebels-Tigers saga
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LSU player served court papers related to Ole Miss lawsuit in latest twist to Rebels-Tigers saga originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The drama building for Saturday's LSU vs. Ole Miss matchup has added yet another legal aspect.
With Lane Kiffin's Tigers visiting his former Rebels squad in Week 3, on Wednesday, ESPN reported that LSU star defensive end Princewill Umanmielen was served with court papers related to his offseason exit from Ole Miss.
Days after Umanmielen is being served those court papers, he's set to face the school suing him.
Here's what to know about the lawsuit against Umanmielen, adding more tension to LSU vs. Ole Miss.
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Why Princewill Umanmielen was served court papers in Ole Miss lawsuit
ESPN's Pete Thamel reported that on Tuesday, Umanmielen was served with court papers related to the Ole Miss' lawsuit against him, court records showed. Just four days before the star defender and LSU are set to visit the Rebels, marking Kiffin's return to Oxford, Ole Miss took the latest step in its legal action against Umanmielen.
According to ESPN, Umanmielen was served his papers "in the parking lot outside LSU's football facility" on Tuesday. LSU officials had been "generally aware" that Ole Miss officials were attempting to serve Umanmielen.
Court records showed that Umanmielen was served with "the plaintiff's first set of interrogatories, requests for production of documents and requests for admission."
"We defer to our initial statement on the matter and have no further comment," Ole Miss officials told ESPN in a statement.
Ole Miss' lawsuit against Umanmielen stems from his offseason exit, also naming LSU offensive lineman Devin Harper. The Rebels are reportedly seeking nearly $1 million in penalties, with $550,00 from Umanmielen and $400,000 from Harper, for breach of contract. Ole Miss officials are alleging that the two players both signed revenue-sharing contracts to return to Oxford in January, then proceeded to enter the transfer portal and sign with LSU.
"The University of Mississippi values its student-athletes and is committed to honoring all obligations made to them," Ole Miss said in a statement to ESPN on July 27. "In return, the university expects that same commitment from its student-athletes and their representatives in upholding their contracts."
The contracts allegedly signed by Umanmielen and Harper included penalties for breaking the contract within a 90-day window, the lawsuit said, and after the school requested payment from the players, neither responded within the required 30-day window.
ESPN also reported that Ole Miss is more concerned with "forcing LSU to account for the $950,000 on its revenue sharing cap, rather than recouping money from its former players."
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