Court proceedings began Monday in Detroit, Mich., in the lawsuit filed by Charlie Jones, a former NIU football player who was injured in a 1985 practice, against former men’s Athletic Director Robert Brigham.

NIU Legal Counsel George Shur said a Michigan law firm has been retained by the university on Brigham’s behalf and has asked the court to dismiss the case. Shur said the suit, which also names the National Collegiate Athletic Association as a co-defendant, is “absolutely without foundation” as far as Brigham’s negligence is concerned.

“We should get a reaction from the Michigan court within a couple of months,” Shur said.

The university is representing Brigham in accordance with state law, which allows NIU to defend Brigham as long as he was acting within the duties of his job and in good faith.

The lawsuit is one of two filed by Jones. NIU head football coach Jerry Pettibone is one of 13 defendants named in the other suit, but as of Tuesday, Pettibone had not been served his summons.

That was news to Jones’ Chicago attorney, Kevin Duckworth, who is handling the Pettibone lawsuit. Duckworth said the defendants in that case should have been contacted by now.

Jones, a former cornerback, injured his neck when he tackled a running back head-on. He was knocked unconscious and “was totally paralyzed” the Brigham suit alleges. After regaining consciousness he was assisted to his feet, and he walked under his own power to the training room.

Jones was later diagnosed with a broken neck. He has suffered from headaches since the time of the injury and has been unable to continue his education. Jones is asking for at least $10,000 from each of the defendants in both suits.