http://www.tidesports.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20031101/NEWS/311010316/1011
Sports analyst wants testimony kept private Tom Culpepper says publicity could cost him jobs or breach confidentiality agreements By Scott Parrott Staff Writer November 01, 2003 Email this story. TUSCALOOSA | Attorneys for Tom Culpepper are asking a judge to order that the freelance sport recruiting analyst�s testimony be kept private in a $60 million defamation lawsuit filed by two former Crimson Tide football coaches. Culpepper is one of seven defendants, including the NCAA, being sued by Ronnie Cottrell and Ivy Williams. The former coaches� attorneys have requested out-of-court testimony and documents from Culpepper in preparation for the trial, for which a date has not been set. In the court filing, Culpepper�s attorneys said the sport analyst could suffer irreparable harm and lose future employment if the coaches� attorneys �freely spin" the testimony and other information to the media or others not directly involved in the case. Tuscaloosa County Circuit Judge Steve Wilson is scheduled to hear arguments on the motion Nov. 14. �This is a case that has tremendous public appeal and interest, so why should it be treated as confidential? Let the thing open up and let the public see what they�re doing," said Delaine Mountain, an attorney representing Cottrell and Williams. Defense attorneys repeatedly have criticized the coaches� attorneys, Tommy Gallion and Mountain, for courting media attention since the lawsuit was filed in December 2002. The latest motion, referring to Gallion, said the attorney has commented on specific testimony as well as other information obtained in the case on radio shows and through other media outlets in �an apparent effort to enhance the public�s perception of his clients, as well as his clients� case, and 'to try his case in the media.�" The motion asks that the judge bar the attorneys from discussing or providing any information about Culpepper�s out-of-court testimony to the media or others not directly associated with the case. Much of the information Culpepper might have regarding issues in the case came from confidential sources, the motion said. Culpepper might breach confidentiality agreements if he were to provide some of the information, the motion said. Efforts to contact Culpepper and his attorney, John Scott of Birmingham, were unsuccessful Friday. The former coaches claim they have been unable to find reliable work since the December 2000 dismissal of former Crimson Tide football coach Mike DuBose and his staff. Williams was the Crimson Tide�s running backs coach under DuBose. Cottrell was the recruiting coordinator. The lawsuit includes claims of libel, slander, defamation, conspiracy and invasion of privacy against Culpepper. Other defendants in the lawsuit are Gene Marsh, formerly the university�s faculty athletics representative; Marie Robbins, then the university�s NCAA compliance committee�s compliance coordinator; Thomas E. Yeager, the chairman of the NCAA�s committee on infractions; Richard A. Johanningmeier, an enforcement representative with the NCAA and lawyer Richard Hilliard. Reach Scott Parrott at scott.parrott@ tuscaloosanews.com or 722-0200. ______________________________________________________ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List "Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup!" To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net
