RNWLG Represents Oregon State University in Pac-12 Litigation
Oregon State University (“OSU”) retained RNWLG attorneys, Matthew Mensik and Max Archer, as its local counsel in the litigation it filed with Washington State University (“WSU”) against the Pac-12 Conference, the then-Conference Commissioner, George Kliavkoff, and the University of Washington (“UW”), which intervened in the litigation shortly after its commencement. OSU and WSU commenced the lawsuit in Whitman County Superior Court (see Case No. 23-2-00273-38).
April 1, 2024 - Oregon State University (“OSU”) retained RNWLG attorneys, Matthew Mensik and Max Archer, as its local counsel in the litigation it filed with Washington State University (“WSU”) against the Pac-12 Conference, the then-Conference Commissioner, George Kliavkoff, and the University of Washington (“UW”), which intervened in the litigation shortly after its commencement. OSU and WSU commenced the lawsuit in Whitman County Superior Court (see Case No. 23-2-00273-38).
Judge Gary Libey granted OSU and WSU’s joint motion for a temporary restraining order on September 11, 2023, which immediately restrained Former Commissioner Kliavkoff from calling any Pac-12 board meetings pending a subsequent hearing addressing whether the Pac-12 Conference’s bylaws prohibited the 10 other member schools from participating in the Pac-12 Conference’s governance due to their decision to leave the Conference.
Judge Libey granted OSU and WSU’s motion for preliminary injunction at a subsequent hearing on November 14, 2023. In so doing, Judge Libey held the Pac-12 Conference’s bylaws precluded the 10 departing member schools from voting on or otherwise deciding the future of the Pac-12 Conference. At the hearing, Judge Libey also denied a motion to dismiss the litigation.
The Pac-12 Conference, Former Commissioner Kliavkoff, and UW subsequently sought discretionary review of Judge Libey’s rulings by the Washington State Supreme Court. Their motion for discretionary review was denied, however, by a Special En Banc Conference on December 15, 2023. The litigation was settled out of court and the litigation was dismissed on March 28, 2024.
RNWLG is proud of the opportunity to represent Oregon State University.
More information on the case can be found below:
RNWLG Prevails at Trial in Spokane County Will Contest Case
RNWLG Prevails at Trial in Spokane County Will Contest Case. On January 22, 2023, Judge Plese issued a 20-plus-page ruling upholding Naomi White’s 2020 Will and concluding that Naomi White executed her 2020 Will free of any undue influence from the child benefiting from the changes thereto.
January 23, 2024 - In 2020, a 98-year-old mother, Naomi White, executed a new Will that reduced the inheritance of one of her children and increased the inheritance of another. Following Naomi White’s death in 2021, the child whose inheritance was reduced filed a TEDRA petition against Naomi White’s Estate in Spokane County Superior Court. In his TEDRA petition, the child requested an order from the Court setting aside and invalidating his mother’s 2020 Will. The child alleged that Naomi White lacked testamentary capacity when she executed the 2020 Will and that she was affected by the undue influence of her other son who was benefited by the changes made in the 2020 Will. The Personal Representative of the Estate of Naomi White retained Matthew A. Mensik, Max K. Archer, and their law firm, RNWLG, to defend the Estate in the TEDRA Petition and to ensure the 2020 Will was upheld.
Prior to trial, Matthew Mensik and Max Archer filed, argued, and prevailed on a motion to dismiss the petitioning child’s testamentary incapacity claim. After the dismissal of the incapacity claim, the petitioning child and Naomi White’s Estate proceeded to try the remaining undue influence claim before the Honorable Judge Annette S. Plese. The trial occurred over the course of four days in October 2023. At trial, Matthew Mensik and Max Archer took the testimony of and cross-examined numerous witnesses, including attorneys, a medical doctor, and local and out-of-state family members.
On January 22, 2023, Judge Plese issued a 20-plus-page ruling upholding Naomi White’s 2020 Will and concluding that Naomi White executed her 2020 Will free of any undue influence from the child benefiting from the changes thereto. For more information on our litigation practice, including our TEDRA dispute practice, please contact Matt Mensik at mam@rnwlg.cm.
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