LEMONT FURNACE, Pa. -- Today (July 12) Penn State’s Board of Trustees approved a resolution authorizing the University to make settlement offers to a number of individuals who have made claims against the University arising out of actions of former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky. This authorization is limited to offers recommended by the board’s Legal Subcommittee -- an arm of the board’s Legal and Compliance Committee -- within a range of dollar values described to the board in a confidential, attorney-client privileged session.
"Today's action is yet another important step toward the resolution of claims from Sandusky’s victims," said Penn State President Rodney Erickson. "As we have previously said, the University intends to deal with these individuals in a fair and expeditious manner, with due regard to their privacy."
Given the sensitivity of the process, University officials will have no further comment until the settlements have been finalized and mutually acceptable settlement agreements are executed and delivered. No settlement agreements have been signed and the discussions with counsel for the various individuals remain confidential. Penn State has no definitive timetable set for the signed agreements, but officials hope to conclude the process with the majority of the claimants within the next several weeks.
The law firm of Feinberg Rozen LLP was retained to help facilitate the settlements. Feinberg Rozen has received national recognition for helping to resolve mass litigation arising out of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks; the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico; and the Virginia Tech shootings in 2007.