Court dismisses Rick Pitino’s lawsuit against Adidas

FILE – SEPTEMBER 27:Coach Rick Pitino and Athletic director Tom Jurich Let Go From Louisville – ORLANDO, FL – MARCH 22: Head coach Rick Pitino of the Louisville Cardinals looks on in the first half while taking on the Saint Louis Billikens during the third round of the 2014 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Amway Center on March 22, 2014 in Orlando, Florida. Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images/AFP

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A federal judge has dismissed former Louisville coach Rick Pitino’s lawsuit against Adidas, agreeing with the sportswear maker that his claim requires arbitration and should be heard out of court.

Pitino sued Adidas last October in U.S. District Court for breach of contract, alleging that the Oregon-based company deliberately ruined his reputation. Adidas had terminated its personal services contract with Pitino hours after Louisville’s Athletic Association fired him for cause following the school’s acknowledgement of its involvement in a federal bribery investigation of college basketball. Pitino was not named in the federal complaint.

His lawsuit said Adidas “outrageously conspired” to funnel money to the family of a Louisville recruit without his knowledge and made it appear he was aware of its practices.

Judge David J. Hale wrote Tuesday that while the court agreed with Adidas’ argument that Pitino had already begun his claim, it should be dismissed for improper venue and brought to arbitration in Oregon if it can’t be mediated.