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Sandusky victim sues Penn State

The man known as Victim 1 blames the school for how officials dealt with complaints.

By Mark Scolforo, Associated Press

Posted: August 26, 2012

HARRISBURG - A young man who testified against Jerry Sandusky sued Pennsylvania State University on Friday, blaming the university for how its top officials dealt with complaints that the former assistant football coach behaved inappropriately with boys.

The lawsuit filed by the person known as Victim 1 at Sandusky's trial said university officials made deliberate decisions not to report Sandusky to authorities.

Those decisions were "a function of [Penn State's] purposeful, deliberate and shameful subordination of the safety of children to its economic self-interests, and to its interest in maintaining and perpetuating its reputation," the suit said. It was filed electronically in Philadelphia state court Friday night, Slade McLaughlin, a lawyer for Victim 1, said.

Sandusky, 68, was convicted in June of 45 criminal counts for sexual abuse of boys, both on and off campus. He awaits sentencing that will likely send him to prison for the rest of his life.

Around November 2009, Victim 1 and his mother reported Sandusky to the boy's high school and the Clinton County child protective agency. Their complaint triggered the state investigation that last year resulted in charges against Sandusky, as well as Penn State administrators Gary Schultz and Tim Curley.

Schultz, who retired, and Curley, who was placed on leave, were charged with perjury and failure to report suspected child abuse. Both deny the allegations and await trial. Famed football coach Joe Paterno was fired. He died in January.

The suit alleges negligence, fraudulent concealment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and civil conspiracy. It asks for compensatory and punitive damages.

The suit names no defendants other than the State College university.

University spokesman Dave La Torre said the school has no comment on the pending litigation. "The university takes these cases very seriously," La Torre said, adding that the current president and board "have publicly emphasized that their goal is to find solutions that rest on the principle of justice for the victims."

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