Les alerts Bradley of impending lawsuit over contract

[FortyTwo]

I doubt UC Davis would purposely set themselves up for this, but it could very well be that JL and his reps suggested aspects of the contract structure that led to the minimal payments in years 1-3, then the significant bump in year 4 when Bradley is off the hook. I'd be curious to see how this salary package compares to others in the Big West and the previous UC Davis coach.

Anybody that knows JL knows that he has an ego and wouldn't feel too bad about sticking it to BU's current administration in this manner.

[wizard1]

Les alerts BU on impending lawsuit

Based on the PJS story today, JL and UC Davis are clearly wrong, IMO.

FIRST---Why in the world would JL accept a less than paltry salary of $125,000, $80,000 for coaching and $45,00 for teaching. What was the motive for this? Calif. may be having budget problems but I have trouble believing this had anything at all to do with this situation.

SECONDLY---Why would they structure the $125,000 over three years and then double it and raise it further after the first three years? Again, they are clearly trying to take advantage of BU.

THIRDLY---The BU car compensation seems quite fair since it puts JL in the same size car he had at BU. However, this apparently is not good enough for a vengeful JL who wants BU to pay for a larger car than he had here.

It seems to me that JL is clearly driven by a desire for revenge and UC Davis is going along with this.

I supported the hiring of JL and supported him until the last 2 years. In any event, I always respected JL .

Now, I am very disappointed at what he is attempting and my respect for him is gone. This is a sad turn of events and I hope it gets resolved soon.

[Braves4Life]

I'm still not seeing what was so wrong with how Les and UC-D structured that contract. I think they settled on a sum of money over the life of the contract and then decided the best way to pay that money out. Corporate executives do this planning all the time with stock bonuses, deferred compensation, etc. I think this was a smart move on Les' part and am not really sure Bradley can win this....... And if they do win they look very bad in my eyes and the eyes of any "loyal" alum.

[Chico]

Updated story a bit...

""We have honored the terms and provisions of Coach Les' contact," Bradley spokesperson Shelley Epstein said."

-seriously?!

When it comes to SE, I just consider the source.

[Beninator]

When it comes to SE, I just consider the source.

With that I whole heartedly agree!

[Mikovio]

I'm a lawyer and from a legal standpoint, when a contract is breached (here, by Bradley), the non-breaching party (Les) has a duty to mitigate damages.

For example, if you're a landlord and a tenant moves out with 6 months left on the lease at $1000/mo, you can't simply demand $6k. You have a duty to find a replacement for that tenant and make up as much of the difference as you can.

You can't sit on your hands, as Les contends he could have here. And you can't sign a tenant to a $200/mo lease, unless that is absolutely the best you could do.

Les had a duty to search for other employment and mitigate the damages owed to him. He did that, and found a job, and structured a contract so that it doubled after three years. Was $125k/yr the best he could get for those first three years, or did he neglect his duty to Bradley? Did he negotiate with UC-Davis in good faith? Simple question, and if the structure of this contract (ie, doubling after 3 years) is as unusual as it seems at first blush, Bradley can and should refuse to pay Les' demands.

Is it worth the bad press? That's harder to say. I think Bradley will win this, but the outcome of this lawsuit will probably be buried in page 6 of the sports section. But if you're talking six figures I think it's worth fighting.

Edit: Can you tell I haven't logged in for 5 years? Awesome.

[AZ BU Fan]

And what knowledge do you have to suggest Jim Les is trying to "get as much out of BU as he thinks he is entitled to"?

I guess it was from the letter he sent to BU indicating he will sue if he isn't given the amount of money he thinks he is entitled to from his BU contract.

[SFP]

Perhaps UC Davis made the hire because of the ability to hire JL at a discount and JL took the contract because BU would make up the difference. In calculating what BU owes. JL could say this was his best choice and he is not obligated to take just any job to appease BU. I'd have to believe right or wrong BU will have a very tough time proving their stance. Now I want to know who made this public. This would have been best for both parties to have been settled by private mitigation. The ego can get in the way for doing what is best.

I also have to believe JL is owed some money. Besides being coach if he made commission off of what he personally raised for the University, he'd have made a mint. Let's not get into who is wrong or right. Both parties are looking into their best interest and are doing what they believe is best for them. Is there really a wrong and right in this situation. I guess it depends on whose side your on.

[saluki762]

Is there really a wrong and right in this situation. I guess it depends on whose side your on.

Best statement in whole thread.

[real fan]

Perhaps UC Davis made the hire because of the ability to hire JL at a discount and JL took the contract because BU would make up the difference. In calculating what BU owes. JL could say this was his best choice and he is not obligated to take just any job to appease BU. I'd have to believe right or wrong BU will have a very tough time proving their stance. Now I want to know who made this public. This would have been best for both parties to have been settled by private mitigation. The ego can get in the way for doing what is best.

I also have to believe JL is owed some money. Besides being coach if he made commission off of what he personally raised for the University, he'd have made a mint. Let's not get into who is wrong or right. Both parties are looking into their best interest and are doing what they believe is best for them. Is there really a wrong and right in this situation. I guess it depends on whose side your on.

This whole situation looks bad for both BU and Les, they should have been able to come to an agreement, no doubt Les is taking less money from UC Davis which may be one of the leading factors in hiring him, BU on the other hand needs to make a good enough offer to get this settled .

[Bravesfan]

This fiasco is one of the big reasons why I disliked this administration in the first place. Mainly for their reputation of how they run things around here.

Whether or not Les was right or wrong (and I highly doubt he along with the UC Davis administration did this to spite Bradley), Bradley needs to pony up the remaining cash they owe him. Even if Les only gets paid $80,000 a year for his coaching duties, that's still almost $250,000 savings for Bradley that they would otherwise have to pay him if he sat home for three years. Something tells me they would not have a problem if Les chose to do that instead!

[crossbones]

How dare Jim Les demand that Bradley actually honor that contract? What did he ever do for the program except take them to the highest level they've been at in the last 40 years? What nerve...

[TheGuy]

Les is completely in the right here. He has the right to accept any contract he wants and whether or not that contract is set up to take advantage of BU, it doesn't matter. If it was in your financial best interest to agree on a number and backload it so that you can receive the most cash possible, then you would do the same thing and there is nothing illegal about it. And not that it matters, but he already stated that the previous coaches contract was structured the same way.

As mentioned previously, BU is still saving money and he could have just as easily sat on his butt and collected the total, after which he accepts a new coaching contract. That would be taking complete advantage.

BU agreed to pay the difference and that is something they are simply not doing at this point. Other posters suggested that he tried to keep this out of the public for BU's sake.

If this were taken to court, BU will look like the bad guy. Les should get everything he is entitled to, which he is not receiving currently.

[tornado]

How dare Jim Les demand that Bradley actually honor that contract? What did he ever do for the program except take them to the highest level they've been at in the last 40 years? What nerve...

you are wrong crossbones -- he also led them to the 1986 NCAA and the only win BU would have in the NCAA in a 50 year span from the mid-1950's to the 21st century, and also won National individual awards & All-Conference awards for his individual play...

[bu fan 9]

There will be a buy out of some kind.