Lubbock, Texas ? Attorneys for fired football coach Mike Leach argued before a three-judge panel Thursday that Texas Tech’s behavior surrounding his departure means it can’t claim immunity from his wrongful termination lawsuit.

Leach attorney Paul Dobrowski argued that the university’s conduct scuttled its ability to claim protection by sovereign immunity — a term that means a state agency or entity cannot be sued without permission from the Texas Legislature or without a waiver based on a defendant’s conduct.