Appeals Court Effectively Closes the Book Mike Leach’s Defamation Claim

A Texas appeals court denied the appeal of former Texas Tech University football coach Mike Leach.   Leach had appealed a trial court’s decision from a year ago, which granted summary judgment to Spaeth Communications, Inc., ESPN, and college football analyst Craig James, all of whom had been sued by Leach for defamation in connection with Leach’s handling of one of his concussed players, and Leach’s subsequent termination from the university.   Leach’s fall from grace began wh