ESPN files public-records suit against Ohio St

Published Jul. 12, 2011 1:54 a.m. ET

foxsports

ESPN has sued Ohio State University, alleging the school violated state public records law by denying requests for items related to an NCAA investigation that has led to the loss of football coach Jim Tressel and star quarterback Terrelle Pryor.

The lawsuit filed Monday in the Ohio Supreme Court asks justices to order the university to release the records and pay attorney fees and court costs. Among records sought are correspondences referring to Ted Sarniak, reportedly a mentor of Pryor in his hometown Jeannette, Pa.

Tressel forwarded emails to Sarniak regarding accusations that players had sold game memorabilia in violation of NCAA rules.

Among its arguments, ESPN says the university cited an inapplicable federal student-records privacy law in denying records.

Ohio State spokesman Jim Lynch says the university believes it has followed applicable law. He says ESPN has received a ''voluminous amount'' of information.