Since 2013, Penn State has been suing one of its insurance companies over reimbursement for payment to Jerry Sandusky’s victims.
As found in court documents posted Wednesday, the insurance company, Pennsylvania Manufacturers Association Insurance Company, is refusing to reimburse Penn State for more than 60 million dollars in settlements to nearly 30 civil claims, because in part, it believes that “In 1976, a child allegedly reported to PSU’s head football coach Joseph Paterno, that he (the child) was sexually molested by Sandusky.” and that knowledge of abuse invalidates the policy.
The insurance company says there were other reports too.That in 1988, a Penn State assistant coach witnessed sexual contact between Sandusky and a child. And in 1988 a report of Sandusky molestation was referred to Penn State’s athletic director. The judge writes that theres no evidence that reports of these incidents went up the chain of command at Penn State.
In a statement provided to WTAJ-TV, the attorney and spokesman for the Paterno family, Wick Sollers wrote “Over the past 4 and a half years Joe Paterno’s conduct has been scrutinized by an endless list of investigators and attorneys. Through all of this review there has never been any evidence of inappropriate conduct by Coach Paterno. To the contrary, the evidence clearly shows he shared information with his superiors as appropriate. An allegation now about an alleged event 40 years ago, as represented by a single line in a court document regarding an insurance issue, with no corroborating evidence, does not change the facts. Joe Paterno did not, at any time, cover up conduct by Jerry Sandusky.”
Paterno family spokesman Dan McGinn responded with this letter to WTAJ.
PATERNO FAMILY DEMANDS FULL REVIEW OF FACTS, REFUSES TO ONCE AGAIN FIGHT SHADOWS AND RUMORS
Because of a single sentence in a court record of an insurance case, Joe Paterno’s reputation has once again been smeared with an unsubstantiated, forty year old allegation. In response to this allegation and the subsequent media hype, the Paterno family is demanding a full public review of the facts.
From day one, Joe Paterno and his family have called for an objective and total pursuit of the truth with a full respect for due process. In 2011 and 2012 Joe Paterno was subjected to an unprecedented rush to justice by Louis Freeh and the NCAA. Time has proven that the Freeh report was deeply flawed and the unprecedented punitive actions of the NCAA were unjustified. Over the past four and a half years, numerous allegations that were taken as fact when they were initially communicated have been proven false. It is in this context that the latest claim should be viewed.
The reckless, all-out rush to accept accusations as legitimate without a full fair review of the facts, cannot be allowed to happen again. Fighting shadows and rumors on issues that are this significant is a disservice to everyone who cares about the truth. We do not fear the truth, we embrace it. And we will not allow a repeat of what happened before. We challenge anyone with evidence of misconduct to come forward and present their allegations in a process that allows a full, fair review of the evidence. We will stand by the facts, but we will never accept veiled accusations presented in a context where they cannot be objectively reviewed and analyzed.
If anything has been learned from the Sandusky tragedy it should be that rushed investigations do incredible harm. For once, a fair process should come before conclusions are reached.
Because of a single sentence in a court record of an insurance case, Joe Paterno’s reputation has once again been smeared with an unsubstantiated, forty year old allegation. In response to this allegation and the subsequent media hype, the Paterno family is demanding a full public review of the facts.
From day one, Joe Paterno and his family have called for an objective and total pursuit of the truth with a full respect for due process. In 2011 and 2012 Joe Paterno was subjected to an unprecedented rush to justice by Louis Freeh and the NCAA. Time has proven that the Freeh report was deeply flawed and the unprecedented punitive actions of the NCAA were unjustified. Over the past four and a half years, numerous allegations that were taken as fact when they were initially communicated have been proven false. It is in this context that the latest claim should be viewed.
The reckless, all-out rush to accept accusations as legitimate without a full fair review of the facts, cannot be allowed to happen again. Fighting shadows and rumors on issues that are this significant is a disservice to everyone who cares about the truth. We do not fear the truth, we embrace it. And we will not allow a repeat of what happened before. We challenge anyone with evidence of misconduct to come forward and present their allegations in a process that allows a full, fair review of the evidence. We will stand by the facts, but we will never accept veiled accusations presented in a context where they cannot be objectively reviewed and analyzed.
If anything has been learned from the Sandusky tragedy it should be that rushed investigations do incredible harm. For once, a fair process should come before conclusions are reached.