Antonio Morales  |  The Clarion-Ledger
Updated 06:22 pm CDT Sep. 24, 2017


OXFORD — More than three months have passed since Rebel Rags filed its lawsuit against Mississippi State's Leo Lewis and Kobe Jones, and Lindsey Miller, Laremy Tunsil's estranged stepfather.

The three defendants have each filed motions to dismiss, among other things, in response to the complaint, which alleged defamation, commercial disparagement and civil conspiracy.

On Monday, those and other motions, which will dictate the direction of this case, will be heard at 10 a.m. at the Union County Courthouse in New Albany.

RELATED: Hearing for motions in Rebel Rags lawsuit postponed until Sept. 25

This case stems from statements Lewis, Jones and Miller provided to the NCAA's enforcement staff during its investigation into Ole Miss.

The enforcement staff alleged former Ole Miss staffers Barney Farrar and Chris Kiffin arranged for the trio to receive $2,800 in free merchandise from Rebel Rags, which was deemed a Level I violation.

One of the main points of contention on Monday is expected to be Rebel Rags' attempt to group Lewis, Jones and Miller together.

Lewis and Jones both filed motions to sever from the other defendants. They argue there's no link or conspiracy that connects the three parties.

Charles Merkel, a Clarksdale-based attorney who represents Rebel Rags, has stated that he can prove there's a link between the three once discovery begins.

RELATED: Rebel Rags files its response to Mississippi State's Kobe Jones

"There is ample evidence linking the defendants to one overarching conspiracy involving the three named defendants, MSU staff, a NCAA staff person, and a fan-based MSU site," Rebel Rags' response to Jones' filing stated.

Miller's statements occurred in Lafayette County, so if Lewis and Jones are indeed grouped with him, that's where the suit would be heard. Along with a motion to sever, Lewis and Jones' representatives filed motions for transfer of venue.

Since their statements occurred in Starkville, they feel any suit should be heard in Oktibbeha County. Rebel Rags' response argued that even though the statements took place in Oktibbeha County, they were meant to cause damage in Lafayette County, where Rebel Rags is located, so the venue should be there.

RELATED: SI legal analyst: Rebel Rags case operates in its own vacuum

Miller filed a lawsuit against Tunsil, which alleged Tunsil attacked him and defamed his character, in April 2016. Matt Wilson, Miller's attorney, has filed a motion to consolidate the two cases for discovery purposes.

That motion will be heard Monday as well.



Depositions were originally scheduled for July 19 but were delayed. A hearing for these motions was scheduled for Aug. 17 in Holly Springs but was postponed.

Seven or eight other dates were proposed, but conflicts arose, which was how Sept. 25 was settled upon.

RELATED: Leo Lewis denies Rebel Rags' allegations in court filings

Lewis was granted limited immunity by the enforcement staff and testified before the NCAA's Committee on Infractions two weeks ago about his role in multiple allegations tied to Ole Miss, including the Rebel Rags allegation.

Rebel Rags argues that Lewis, Jones and Miller knowingly provided false information to the enforcement staff.

John Wheeler, Lewis' attorney, has told The Clarion-Ledger that Lewis never knowingly provided false information.

Chris Shapley, Jones' attorney, said whatever his client told a NCAA investigator was "100 percent accurate."

Last edited by Ellisvillereb (9/25/2017 5:37 am)