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Big East sues TCU for $5 million over departure to Big 12

TCUHornedFrogs

The Big East has filed a $5 million lawsuit against Texas Christian University after the school backed out of an agreement to join the conference and chose to, instead, become a member of the Big 12.

The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court Monday in Washington.

In the suit, the Big East claims that TCU is responsible for a $5 million payment to the league, which had been agreed upon, were the school not able to fulfill its promise to join.

The conference goes on to say that it has ''made demand for the payment owed under the Agreement, but TCU has refused to make that payment or acknowledge its obligation to do so.’'

TCU had accepted an invitation to join the Big East in November 2010, but spurned the conference when courted by the Big 12 in October 2011.

''TCU administrators were surprised by this lawsuit and believe it is premature. The University is hopeful for an amicable resolution of this matter,’' the school said in a release. ''Because of the pending litigation, TCU will have no further comment.’'

It has become a season of hashing out legal issues for the Big East. The conference recently settled with West Virginia, allowing it to leave for the Big 12 in July in exchange for a $20 million payout.

Pittsburgh wants to circumvent the Big East’s mandatory 27-month notification period for leaving the conference, as they are set to move to the ACC along with Syracuse.

In 2013, the Big East will welcome six schools to the conference, including Temple and Memphis.

Daniel Martin is a writer and editor at JohnnyJungle.com, covering St. John’s. You can find him on Twitter:@DanielJMartin_