Texas A&M defensive coordinator John Chavis has sued both his former employer, LSU, and his current one over a buyout he claims he doesn't owe.
In a lawsuit filed Friday in Brazos County, Texas, Chavis claims he doesn't owe LSU a $400,000 buyout the university is seeking from him for terminating his contract with the Tigers. Chavis left LSU for the same post at Texas A&M earlier this year.
According to the lawsuit, LSU athletic director Joe Alleva sent a letter to Chavis on Jan. 2 demanding he pay a $400,000 buyout to the school in accordance with a section of Chavis' contract. The suit says Chavis gave written notice to LSU to terminate his contract Jan. 5. Chavis also claims that, according to his LSU contract, his "termination date" was effective 30 days after his termination notice, which would make Feb. 4 the effective date. Chavis' final LSU contract ran through Dec. 31, 2015, and called for the buyout to go from $400,000 to zero if the contract was terminated in the final 11 months.
If it is determined that Chavis owes the buyout -- or any amount of "liquidated damages" to LSU -- Texas A&M is obligated to pay that amount, as of Feb. 12, according to the lawsuit. Texas A&M is named as a defendant in the suit because of that obligation.
"Coach Chavis could not be happier to be the defensive coordinator at Texas A&M," Chavis' attorney, Bill Youngkin, said in a written statement Saturday. "He looks forward to the start of spring practice on Monday and is excited about coaching the Aggies this fall. Texas A&M was included in the lawsuit because it is an indispensable party and its inclusion is necessary to resolve the dispute LSU has created."
Said Texas A&M senior associate athletic director for external affairs Jason Cook in a statement Friday evening: "There is not a dispute between Coach Chavis and Texas A&M. The university stands behind its commitment to Coach Chavis to pay any buyout due to LSU. The issue is that Texas A&M disagrees with LSU that any buyout payment is actually due."
LSU said in a statement Friday night that it would seek to have the lawsuit dismissed.
"The state of Texas is not a proper venue to decide a contractual dispute between Louisiana State University and one of its former coaches, and LSU will pursue immediate dismissal of Chavis' suit," the school said. "LSU has also initiated a legal action against Chavis in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to recover the $400,000 buy-out owed to LSU by Chavis. LSU regrets that what is ordinarily a simple matter must be resolved in litigation, but it will vigorously defend the contractual and constitutional rights of the University."
Chavis wasn't officially named Texas A&M's defensive coordinator until February, but he could be seen in photos landing at Easterwood Airport in College Station, Texas, with Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin on Jan. 1, and visiting recruits in Texas A&M attire in January after he sent his written notice to LSU.
The lawsuit states that Chavis moved to Bryan, Texas, and purchased a home there after sending LSU his termination notice Jan. 5.
KBTX.com earlier reported Chavis' filing of the lawsuit.