Hedlund said a University subpeona of NCAA documents related to Haskins' misconduct will go forward, but other discovery proceedings are on hold until after the mediation talks slated to begin Dec. 4. If those talks fail, Haskins' move for dismissal will be heard in early January, Hedlund said. Ron Meshbesher, one of Haskins' attorneys, said he was also optimistic Thursday. Meshbesher argues the University did not attempt to resolve the dispute with his client as called for in the buyout agreement before filing suit against him. Gildea contends the University did work to find a resolution prior to seeking legal recourse.
Mediation is a nonbinding intervention by both sides to resolve a suit and is common in civil cases.
A neutral third party will sit down with the camps and attempt to facilitate a settlement discussion. The court will appoint a mediator if the two parties can't agree on one before the deadline. The University filed suit against Haskins in the wake of allegations of academic fraud in the men's basketball program. In March 1999, former tutor Jan Gangelhoff said she completed more than 400 pieces of coursework for at least 18 players between 1993 and 1998. After a University investigation, officials decided to buy out Haskins' contract, saying they did not have direct evidence of the coach's complicity in the cheating at that time.