David McKenzie, a Triangle-based lawyer specializing in intellectual property and constitutional law, is suing UNC-Chapel Hill over alleged public records violations with regards to materials concerning potential conference realignment moves. Specifically, McKenzie is challenging the university over documents relating to what has become known as the “Carolina Blue Matter,” the secret name used by the university for its exploration of conference realignment options should it leave the Atlantic Coast Conference.
According to a story originally published in The Athletic earlier in February, UNC engaged the services of the New York-based law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP to explore these options. The Athletic reported UNC’s legal fees exceeded $600,000. McKenzie’s suit, filed in Orange County Superior Court on Wednesday, February 19, claims the university did not provide him with complete records for these transactions.
“Defendants have failed to produce complete, itemized Skadden billing records, instead providing misleading invoices that obscure the services rendered,” reads the lawsuit. ” The disclosed records contain vague placeholders, mislabeled charges, and shifting justifications that further erode their credibility.”
The full lawsuit runs 111 pages long and names the university, vice chancellor for communications Kamrhan Farwell and UNC’s interim general counsel Kara Simmons as defendants. Simmons is also the university’s vice chancellor for legal affairs.
This is not the first time McKenzie has publicly challenged the university. He previously sued UNC and the Board of Trustees in May of 2024 for failing to comply with open meetings laws and more public records violations. The case was dismissed in July.
The “Carolina Blue Matter” shows a clear interest from UNC in a potential exit from the Atlantic Coast Conference. Two of the league’s other member schools, Florida State University and Clemson University, are currently engaged in lawsuits against the conference in an attempt to explore exit options. UNC is not involved in either suit. The ACC’s current Grant of Rights means the league controls each member school’s media rights until 2036.
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