Bakersfield College Announces Legal Action Against CCCAA Over Sanctions
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Today, Bakersfield College announced that the college has filed legal action against the California Community College Athletics Association (CCCAA) over sanctions levied against the college's athletics department and football program. On August 30, Bakersfield College received official word from the CCCAA Appeals Board that the college's third-round appeal of sanctions to athletics was denied.
“Even though this entire matter could have been resolved with the CCCAA through a fair and equitable process, we were denied that,” said Dr. Sonya Christian, president of Bakersfield College. “Submitting to binding arbitration that CCCAA has dictated, which we firmly believe does not promote due process, was not an option. We felt our only option was to seek legal redress.”
The college and district have retained the services of C. Christine Maloney of Foster Employment Law to lead the legal action against CCCAA. Papers were served to CCCAA and the Southern California Football Association (SCFA) on Friday, September 13, 2013.
“Christine is a strong advocate for public entities and a champion of fair processes utilized by those public entities,” said Christian. “Further, Christine has experience and success in litigating against the CCCAA, and I am confident she is the best person to represent our students, our athletic program, and Bakersfield College.”
The CCCAA and SCFA legal documentation and communications are posted online for the public to review.
On May 14, Bakersfield College received a communication from the Southern California Football Association, and a second from the California Community College Athletic Association, requiring the college vacate all wins of the 2011 and 2012 football seasons, including the 2012 state championship. The Bakersfield College football team has also been placed on a post-season ban for the 2013 season, and will be on probation for the 2013 and 2014 seasons.
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Story picked up by:
- First News on First Look with Scott Cox, KERN-AM 1180 (First Look: First News for September 18)
- KGET-TV 17 NBC (Bakersfield College files legal action over football sanctions)
- The Bakersfield Californian (Local Report: BC files 3rd in series of appeals)
