Penn State just announced the settlement agreements for 26 of the victims in the widely publicized case against their former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky . The settlement will find the university handing over almost sixty million dollars. A total of 32 parties claimed to have been victimized by Sandusky and the university has dismissed a half dozen for being "Without Merit" . The school had already been hit with a 60 million dollar fine by the NCAA, along with 4 year bowl ban and cap on scholarships. Though if Penn State's sixty three to fourteen loss to Ohio State is any indication, they won't need to worry about bowls for other reasons.
Spokespeople from the school all know they can no undo the wrongs done, but the see this as a positive step forward in putting the programs ugly past behind them. The money from these settlements is reported to be coming all from the school's pocket without the aid of taxpayer dollars, student tuition or donations to aid in the payment process . After Sandusky's conviction on 45 criminal counts of child molestation last June, the University vowed to compensate the victims and their families.
The settlement negotiations have been a work in progress now for over a year, and on top the NCAA fines and the 60 million dollar settlement, it is estimated the school has spent another 50 million in lawyer's fees and p/r related expenses since the scandal . The settlement's final documentation will be released in a few weeks. The school stood by their statement this would make an announcement for all of the settlements at one time.
Last year the sixty eight year old Sandusky was sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison for multiple charges of child abuse during his tenure, despite his claims of innocence and attempts to receive a new trial. He did not take the stand at his own trial but claimed to have only showered with the boys, while the eight victims who testified against Sandusky had a different story to tell. They claimed their abuse ranged from grooming and fondling to forced oral sex and anal rape . Former President Graham Spanier, athletic director Tim Curley and senior vice president Gary Schultz are all facings charges in Harrisburg in regards to covering up Sandusky's activities, and are currently awaiting trial. So the book is far from closed on this chapter of the school's ugly legacy.
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