Appeal denied in ex-Texas Tech coach's lawsuit

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) A Texas court has denied an appeal by ex-Texas Tech football coach Mike Leach in a lawsuit over his firing. Texas Tech fired Leach in 2009

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) A Texas court has denied an appeal by ex-Texas Tech football coach Mike Leach in a lawsuit over his firing.

Texas Tech fired Leach in 2009 amid accusations he mistreated a player suffering a concussion. That player was the son of Craig James, a former SMU star and ex-broadcaster with ESPN.

Leach sued James, along with ESPN Inc. and Spaeth Communications, a public relations firm, alleging libel and slander. A judge in 2013 granted summary judgment in favor of James, ESPN and Spaeth. The case against Texas Tech had previously been dismissed.

The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reports (http://bit.ly/1uSN8wn ) the Seventh District Appeals Court in Amarillo on Friday upheld the judge's decision, saying there was no evidence showing Texas Tech succumbed to pressure from James or others to fire Leach.

After-hours messages left with Leach's attorney weren't immediately returned.

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Information from: Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, http://www.lubbockonline.com