Judge orders Rick Pitino and University of Louisville to talk settlement

Rick Pitino has so far avoided being present in courtrooms and meetings involving his lawsuit against the University of Louisville Athletic Association, but that might be about to change.

A federal judge on Wednesday ordered both sides to meet for a settlement conference Sept. 10 in Louisville, and Pitino is among the parties required to attend in person.

A representative from ULAA who is "fully authorized" to approve a potential settlement must also be present in addition to attorneys, according to the order filed by U.S. Magistrate Judge Colin H. Lindsay.

The existence of the conference, scheduled nearly two years after Pitino filed the suit in November 2017, does not guarantee the case won't go to trial. Each side is required to submit a confidential settlement statement to the judge by Sept. 3 detailing the strengths and weaknesses of the case, previous settlement efforts and their current settlement position.

Pitino is suing ULAA for nearly $40 million, the remaining compensation on his final contract, which ran into June 2026.

The conference is scheduled about a month before EuroLeague competition begins for Panathinaikos, the Greek basketball team Pitino coaches. Pitino's attorneys can file a motion to prevent him being compelled to appear in person.

"All persons in attendance at the settlement conference shall be prepared to discuss liability and damages in detail, with reference if necessary to supporting documents and case law," the order said.

ULAA attorney Barbara Edelman declined to comment Wednesday afternoon. Steve Pence, Pitino's attorney, could not be immediately reached.

Attorneys for Pitino sparred with ULAA lawyers in a hearing last month while trying to convince U.S. District Judge David J. Hale to grant a motion for partial summary judgment. ULAA attorneys argued in favor of dismissing the case completely.

The two sides fought over the language in Pitino's employment contract and the relevance of the escort scandal that stripped the Louisville men's basketball program of its 2013 national championship.

Danielle Lerner: 502-582-4042; dlerner@courierjournal.com; Twitter: @Danielle_Lerner. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/daniellel.