Barney Lee Farrar v. National Collegiate Athletic Association

Oxford, Mississippi civil litigation lawyers represented the Plaintiff who sued challenging a decision of the NCAA.

The NCAA conducted an investigation involving the University of Mississippi, a Division I and NCAA member institution. The NCAA's investigation included twenty-one allegations of violations that occurred over a five-year period. The violations included recruiting violations committed by University of Mississippi representatives as well as rule violations committed by six members of the football staff, one of which was Barney Farrar.



Farrar was employed with the University of Mississippi as an assistant athletics director for football from 2012 to December 2016, when he was terminated. Farrar's employment contract with the University of Mississippi required Farrar to comply with the NCAA's rules and bylaws, and Farrar understood that compliance was part of his employment responsibilities.





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Legal issue Does the NCAA act as a state actor under the Mississippi Constitution in its enforcement process concerning due process and malicious interference with employment claims?



Key Phrases Denial of due process. Malicious interference with employment. NCAA bylaws violations. Infractions Appeals Committee. State actor determination.

Reversed and remanded.