Matt Casey provides Harrisburg Patriot-News expert legal analysis on Penn State scandal

news-02.jpg

How To Get Your Free Initial Consultation

To start an evaluation of your case, please complete the form below. The more information you can provide, the better able we will be to determine if we can help you.

We will review the information and let you know by email shortly if we may be able to handle your matter and what the next steps may be.

*This web site is designed for general information only. The information presented at this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship.

Penn State could be sued over child sex-abuse scandal, lawyer says

Nov. 10, 2011

By DONALD GILLILAND, The Patriot-News

Penn State University faces a “substantial” exposure to civil lawsuits as a result of the Jerry Sandusky child sex-abuse scandal, says one of Pennsylvania’s leading civil attorneys.

Matt Casey, a founding partner of the Philadelphia firm Ross Feller Casey who in 2008 won the second-largest compensatory verdict in Pennsylvania history, said he thinks “a very credible argument can be made” that Penn State officials “not only didn’t do anything to prevent the conduct from continuing, but — even worse — in some ways facilitated the conduct by providing (Sandusky) with an office and keys to facilities and the imprimatur of the football office, which it seems he exploited in order to impress and otherwise retain the trust of these children.”

That exposes the university not only to claims for civil damages but also punitive damages, he said.
As recently as last week, he said, Sandusky was listed in the university’s online directory as emeritus professor of physical education.

“And it appears there was knowledge at the highest levels of the university that he was using the property as an instrument in the performance of his crimes against the most vulnerable of citizens," Casey said.

“It is exceedingly rare to see — from the point of view of an attorney — a civil liability case that is so obviously a punitive case,” said Casey.

Casey noted that punitive damages can be multiples of the compensation awarded. “The U.S. Supreme Court has said punitive damages as much as ten times any compensatory damages will be upheld,” said Casey.

Penn State’s exposure would depend on many factors, including the number of cases filed.

Disclaimer: Ross Feller Casey, LLP provides legal advice only after an attorney-client relationship is formed. Our website is an introduction to the firm and does not create a relationship between our attorneys and clients. An attorney-client relationship is formed only after a written agreement is signed by the client and the firm. Because every case is unique, the description of awards and summary of cases successfully handled are not intended to imply or guarantee that same success in other cases. Ross Feller Casey, LLP represents catastrophically injured persons and their families in injury and wrongful death cases, providing legal representation in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.