Paterno Estate’s Lawsuit Receives Response

On Monday in Centre County Court, the NCAA and Penn State filed documents reaffirming their opposition to the lawsuit brought by the estate of former football coach Joe Paterno.

The estate is suing the two organizations for breach of contract.  The NCAA is accused of interference, defamation, conspiracy and disparagement.  These allegations stem from actions taken by the university and the sports organization during the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal. 

The NCAA denies that the coach had any rights that were breached in the matter, and even if he did, the estate cannot argue them after his death in January 2012.  Attorneys for Penn State echoed similar arguments and asked the estate’s claims be dismissed, “Penn State owed no contractual obligations or duties, express or implied to plaintiffs.”

See Lori Falce, NCAA, Penn State Respond to Paterno Estate’s Amended Lawsuit, Mcall, Nov. 11, 2014.