Mike McQueary Awarded $7.3 Million From Penn State For Defamation
By Ty Duffy
A jury awarded former Penn State assistant coach Mike McQueary $7.3 million, to settle his defamation suit against the university. Penn State did not say whether it would appeal the verdict. That award could grow. A judge still has to rule on McQueary’s wrongful termination claim.
McQueary was Penn State’s wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator until 2011. He testified that he witnessed Jerry Sandusky committing sexual assault on a young boy in 2002 and reported the incident in detail to Joe Paterno, athletic director Tim Curley, and university official Gary Schultz.
McQueary was placed on administrative leave following Joe Paterno’s firing, purportedly for his protection. He was not retained when Bill O’Brien took over the program.