Judge dismisses Pitino's lawsuit against Adidas

Rick Pitino has had his lawsuit against Adidas dismissed by a federal judge, who sided with the apparel company's claim that arbitration is required out of court, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal.

Pitino had filed the suit in October 2017 - not long after his dismissal from Louisville - claiming that the company deliberately damaged his reputation when they cut ties with the legendary head coach.

The 65-year-old claimed a breach of contract and blamed Adidas for the company's involvement in a ploy to funnel money to the families of basketball recruits, one of which attended Louisville.

Adidas filed a motion to have the lawsuit dismissed in November, and were granted the motion on Tuesday by Judge David A. Hale.

"Here, the facts underlying Pitino’s tort and contract claims are identical: both claims are based on Adidas’s alleged bribing of a University of Louisville basketball recruit or his family," Hale wrote. "Given this standard and the shared factual basis between the claims, the Court finds that the claim asserted here is 'at least arguably covered by' the Endorsement Agreement."

The agreement between Adidas and Pitino states that arbitration must take place in Oregon and be handled by an Oregon district judge, where the company is located.