UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Pennsylvania State University announced on Monday that it has reached settlements with 26 of Jerry Sandusky’s victims for a total dollar amount of $59.7 million. The school stated in a press release that final documentation is expected within a few weeks. Sandusky was found guilty in June of 2012 on 45 of 48 counts related to the sexual abuse of boys while coaching football at Penn State.
“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 stated in the release. “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.”
The school said that the settlement amounts will not be funded by taxpayer funds or student tuition, but rather, various liability insurance policies. Any amount that is not covered by insurance is expected to be drawn from interest revenues the school has collected on University issued loans.
The school said it received a total of 32 claims from individuals but rejected six of them based on merit. The school has also engaged in an unaccounted number of other claims but did not release the status of them with this release. The school also claimed it has instituted more than 115 safety-related changes in the aftermath of Jerry Sandusky’s investigations and convictions.
