Mike Leach's Lawsuits Against ESPN, Texas Tech Definitely Not Dropped, In Case You Wondered

Surely when the Washington St. Cougars hired former Texas Tech Red Raiders coach Mike Leach, they first sought his assurance that his whole suing-Texas Tech-and-ESPN-and-Craig James-for-being-wrongfully-fired thing was in the past. Oh, surely they did not, friend! The business remains, and in fact been now features a new lead attorney, as first reported by Kirk Bohls.

After Houston's Paul Dobrowski stepped down as Leach's attorney, Birmingham's Steve Heninger has filled the void. He has some experience in matters of coaches vs. media outlets, having worked with former Alabama Crimson Tide (and Wazzu!) head coach Mike Price, and thinks Leach's case is an open-and-shutter:

"I think it's a phenomenal case against James and ESPN," Heninger told the American-Statesman on Thursday . "I think it's very close to being a case where a judge would grant a summary judgment in favor of Leach."

Leach's side has attempted to settle the lawsuit against Tech, while the suits of ESPN and James are on hold for the time being.

The coach, you'll recall, was fired in 2009 by the Red Raiders after allegations were raised in the media that Leach had locked James' son Adam James in an electrical closet. The claim was soon proved untrue, with James the younger admitting so in court.

For more on Leach, visit Washington State blog Coug Center.