The University of Michigan Law School is tangled in a costly legal dispute with a professor who is suing the school, alleging he was denied tenure because he is gay.

For the third time in nearly three years, the law school, which reportedly has already spent more than $200,000 defending the suit, is preparing to ask a judge next month to toss out the case. Attorneys for the law school had planned on seeking the dismissal at a hearing this week, but the judge postponed the hearing until Jan. 25.