Gov. Corbett Announces Lawsuit Against NCAA To Overturn PSU Sanctions
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A group of Penn State supporters from all walks of life crowded the room at the Nittany Lion Inn where Gov. Tom Corbett announced he was suing the NCAA to overturn sanctions against the university.
"Just as we stand up and fight every day for victims, we should stand up and fight for those who have been punished unfairly by the NCAA," Gov. Corbett said.
Corbett argues the NCAA didn't have the legal authority to punish the football program and violated its own rules, thereby violating anti-trust laws.
But the NCAA issued a statement saying not only does the suit appear to be without merit, but it is - in its words – "an affront to the victims of this tragedy."
Corbett counters that even though the NCAA shouldn't have imposed a $60 million fine for example, that money should still go to abuse prevention programs given the magnitude of the Sandusky abuse case.
"I would suggest to the Board of Trustees, that they take the $60 million that they made a commitment to, to use it to continue the work they've already been doing such as the efforts they've made with groups like the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape," Gov. Corbett said.
There were tense moments between reporters and the governor's staff over how the governor's chief counsel would be questioned.
Bottom line: no word on the cost of the suit and it was revealed Attorney General Linda Kelly agreed to refer the matter to outside lawyers through the governor's top lawyer rather than take the case herself.
A new Attorney General takes office later this month, and could not reverse that decision, according to the governor's chief counsel.
RELATED LINKS:
Gov. Corbett: PSU Sanctions Were Overreaching & Unlawful (1/2/13)
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