Insurer for Sandusky's charity seeks to avoid paying for his defense

By By Nathan Gorenstein

The Philadelphia Inquirer (MCT)

Published: Monday, Dec. 26 2011 3:34 p.m. MST

PHILADELPHIA _ The insurance company for Jerry Sandusky's charity, Second Mile Inc., wants to be excused from paying for his legal defense.

Federal Insurance Co. of Warren, N.J., says any illegal acts by the former Pennsylvania State University assistant football coach were not committed in his capacity as an official of Second Mile, the nonprofit organization Sandusky founded in 1977 to help troubled youths.

Though the insurance policy does provide for legal costs, the company's filing in U.S. District Court in Williamsport, Pa., maintains that paying for such costs "arising from sexual assault, molestation," or abuse is "repugnant to Pennsylvania public policy" and so should be barred.

Sandusky has been charged with 50 counts of criminal conduct arising from what state prosecutors allege was his molestation of 10 young boys he met through the Second Mile. Two youths not counted among the alleged victims in the criminal case have filed civil lawsuits claiming abuse.

Prosecutors contend that Sandusky groomed his victims by giving them gifts and access to the Penn State football program.

Two Penn State administrators are charged with not doing enough to stop the alleged abuse. Head coach Joe Paterno and university President Graham B. Spanier lost their jobs but were not charged with any crimes.

The insurance lawsuit was filed Friday, the day after notice of the second civil suit was filed by a man who claimed Sandusky had sexually abused him.

The man was identified in court filings as "C. Miller." He filed notice Thursday in Philadelphia of an impending lawsuit against the retired coach. The lawsuit also names Penn State and the Second Mile as defendants.

Sandusky has denied all criminal and civil charges against him. He is free on $250,000 bail. The charges against him include involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, indecent contact, and corruption of minors.

Sandusky's lawyer, Joe Amendola, told the Associated Press on Friday that he had not seen the insurance company's complaint.

"I can say it's not unexpected that the insurance carrier would attempt to get out from under-representing Jerry," Amendola said.

Get The Deseret News Everywhere