I am a graduate student with a fellowship through a company independent from my university. I have had said fellowship since 2014, renewed on a yearly basis. I am paid by my university from funds given to them by the company. They have not paid me yet this year, and have not yet paid my tuition costs which has led to my being dropped from courses and to my student loans are now pushing for exit counseling.

Of course I have been in constant communication trying to sort things out, and have been repeatedly told that things are "nearly done". The latest hold-up is due to a legal disagreement over IP ownership (university v company) on my work. Frankly, I couldn't care less (as don't see any value in my IP) and don't see this as a valid reason to expect me to continue working unpaid. At this point I am owed a paycheck worth about ~$10k in addition to tuition coverage and afraid to continue working on promises alone.

I'm not very keen on starting a fight with either of these entities who have been kind to me, but my needs have gone completely ignored for too long. I am upset that they have put me in this position and I am already stretched well beyond any reasonable expectation. What kind of legal action should I take if I continue to go unpaid? What if I am told that the company and the university could not come to an agreement?