Penn State university has settled the bulk of claims by child sex abuse victims of Jerry Sandusky in a major step to move beyond a scandal that has cost millions and upended a once legendary football programme. The US university has agreed to pay $59.7 million (€43.3 million) to 26 men in the wake of Sandusky's conviction in June 2012 for abuse, Penn State said on its website.
Claims from six other men who said the former assistant football coach abused them as children have been rejected or may result in possible settlements, the school has said.
“We hope this is another step forward in the healing process for those hurt by Mr Sandusky and another step forward for Penn State,” university president Rodney Erickson said in a statement. “We cannot undo what has been done, but we can and must do everything possible to learn from this and ensure it never happens again at Penn State.”
Sandusky (69) was sentenced to 30 to 60 years in prison for abusing 10 boys over 15 years, in a case that tarnished the reputation of Penn State and its late football coach Joe Paterno, who lost his job for failing to report Sandusky to authorities.
“There is some sense of affirmation, but there remains the deep wounds and scars that are wide open and every day it’s a struggle,” said Jeff Anderson, a lawyer for the last two victims to accept the settlement.
The figure is close to the $60 million fine imposed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association – the equivalent of the annual gross revenue of the football programme – along with other sanctions. The victim settlement comes on top of $50 million already spent on fines, legal bills and other costs linked to the scandal that rocked the university after a grand jury indicted Sandusky in November 2011. The university said the settlement amounts would not be funded by student tuition, taxpayer funds or donations. The university maintains liability insurance policies it believes will cover the settlements.
Sandusky lost a bid earlier this month for a new trial.
Three former Penn State administrators have been charged with conspiring to cover up the scandal. – (Reuters)