[Back to News]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 8, 2001
Contact: John Johnson or Randy Allen-- 517.332.5046

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Oct. 8 -

Here is a brief update on the status of the trial:

1. The MHSAA concluded its case on Thursday (Oct. 4). The courtroom phase of the trial is over.

2. Within the next 15 working days, lawyers for both sides will be filing closing arguments. Following that initial 15-day window, there will be an additional period of 15 days in which lawyers for both sides may file responses. After that period of time is over, a ruling may be made by the judge in the case, the Honorable Richard A. Enslen. There is no set timetable for when the ruling will be issued.

3. During the period of time while final legal papers are being filed and the judges' ruling being prepared, MHSAA staff will not comment directly on the litigation.

The MHSAA is a private, not-for-profit corporation of voluntary membership by over 1,300 public and private senior high schools and junior high/middle schools which exists to develop common rules for athletic eligibility and competition. No government funds or tax dollars support the MHSAA, which was the first such association nationally to not accept membership dues or tournament entry fees from schools. Member schools which enforce these rules are permitted to participate in MHSAA tournaments, which attract approximately 1.6 million spectators each year.

Farm Bureau Insurance is a year-round MHSAA Corporate Partner