A young man known as "Victim 5," who testified he was fondled by former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, has reached a settlement that gives him some peace of mind while putting the university in a better position to recover the money through a third party, the man's attorney says. The settlement is the first among dozens of claims made against the school amid the Sandusky child sex abuse scandal, and is for several million dollars.
Attorney Tom Kline said his 25-year-old client was relieved and expected to receive the money within a month. The deal is the first of 26 settlements expected soon among 31 young men who have pressed claims over Sandusky's actions and the school's response. Kline said that as part of the agreement, his client assigned his claim to Penn State, effectively giving the university a better chance to recover the money from other parties, such as Sandusky's Second Mile charity. Michael Rozen, one of the lawyers brought in by Penn State to resolve civil claims, said that Victim 5's case was considered among the more serious because the abuse occurred in August 2001, months after top school officials were informed by a graduate assistant that he saw Sandusky assaulting a boy in a team shower. Kline said the agreement does not prevent Victim 5 from talking or writing about his experience, although he has no plans to do so. "We hope that there is closure, but I can tell you on his behalf that he understands there (are) continuing proceedings, because this case has had, and continues to have, many long tentacles," Kline said. (More Jerry Sandusky stories.)
,
uBlock 
,
and
Ghostery 
)
