WVU Foundation asks legal fees

4/17/2008 2:12 PM

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) -The West Virginia University Foundation wants Rich Rodriguez to pay $30,000 for dragging the organization into a lawsuit over his $4 million buyout clause.

A motion filed Wednesday in Monongalia County Circuit Court in Morgantown accuses Rodriguez's lawyers of a frivolous and unfounded attempt to make the foundation a third party to the case.

Lawyer Stephen Crislip says the foundation spent $29,461 on attorneys' fees and $826 on other expenses. The foundation is the private fundraising arm of the university and a key contributor to athletics.

Judge Robert Stone dropped the foundation from the case earlier this month.

Rodriguez left his job as football coach for the same position at Michigan in December and is fighting the buyout.