STATE COLLEGE, Pa (Reuters) ? The Second Mile charity has agreed to freeze its assets to settle a lawsuit filed by an unidentified victim who accused a former Penn State coach of sexual abuse, the man's lawyer said on Friday.
The Second Mile, founded by coach Jerry Sandusky, who is now charged with molesting eight men when they were juveniles, settled the lawsuit filed on November 23 in state court in Philadelphia, said attorney Ben Andreozzi, who represents the alleged victim.
The charges against Sandusky, who was twice named national assistant football coach of the year during a long tenure with Penn State, rocked the university. It led to the dismissal of legendary head coach Joe Paterno and university president Graham Spanier for failing to notify police of the alleged abuse.
Penn State's Board of Trustees on Friday formally completed the process of dismissing Paterno and Spanier, finalizing actions announced last month after Sandusky's indictment on 40 criminal counts.
The aim of the lawsuit filed by the man identified as Victim 4 in the indictment and John Doe 4 in the civil action was to preserve the The Second Mile's assets, his lawyer said.
The charity to help troubled children, through which Sandusky allegedly met his victims, has said it is considering three options for its future, one of which is closing. It recently told potential donors to give to another charity.
In settling the lawsuit, The Second Mile agreed to obtain court approval prior to any transfer of assets or closure and to provide notice to the alleged victim. It also agreed to allow the man "to be heard by the court regarding the interest of victims and the distribution of assets," Andreozzi said in a statement.
The brief meeting of trustees on Friday morning made official the November 9 firings of Spanier and Paterno. The dismissal of Paterno prompted protests from thousands of Penn State students.
"I think today we wanted to make sure we crossed our 't's and dotted our 'i's," said university spokesman Bill Mahon.
Paterno was head coach of the Nittany Lions, a college football powerhouse, for 46 years.
His assistant Sandusky, a former defensive coordinator, was accused of sexually assaulting young boys over a 15-year period. If convicted, he faces life in prison. He has maintained his innocence.
A ninth alleged victim came forward this week to file a lawsuit against Sandusky, Penn State and The Second Mile.
The executive committee voted unanimously on the resolutions severing Paterno and Spanier from their positions, Mahon said. It also voted unanimously on the resolution replacing Spanier with Rodney Erickson.
Although technically fired, Spanier still holds a tenured position with the university. Mahon said he remains eligible to go on a one-year sabbatical and return to teach at Penn State following a hiatus.
Mahon could not say for certain if the same provision worked for Paterno.
(Additional reporting by Dave Warner; Editing by Ellen Wulfhorst, Jerry Norton, Barbara Goldberg and Greg McCune)
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