SPRINGFIELD - A state appellate court has upheld the dismissals of a pair of lawsuits that claimed the University of Illinois broke state law when it eliminated its controversial Chief Illiniwek mascot.

One lawsuit was filed by Dan Maloney and Logan Ponce, the students who last portrayed the American Indian mascot. The other was filed by Champaign attorney John Gadau.

A Champaign County judge dismissed the suits last June. Last week's decision by the Fourth District Appellate Court affirmed those dismissals.

U of I spokesman Tom Hardy tells The (Champaign) News Gazette the university is satisfied with the ruling.

An attorney for the students says he's disappointed and may appeal.

A message left for Gadau Monday evening was not immediately returned.