Judge ponders next steps in Paterno suit vs. NCAA, Penn St.

    A Pennsylvania judge is considering whether Joe Paterno’s death in early 2012 should affect his estate’s ability to sue the NCAA and Penn State over how they handled the Jerry Sandusky scandal.

    Judge John Leete didn’t rule immediately after a hearing Friday, and met in private afterward with lawyers for the university, college sports’ governing body, Paterno’s family and the other plaintiffs.

    He’ll have to decide whether Paterno’s death from cancer means his estate can continue to pursue a breach-of-contract claim that says the NCAA and Penn State violated Paterno’s rights through the investigation and subsequent consent decree that made harsh judgments about his actions.

    Leete also has to resolve disputes about depositions involving university presidents on the NCAA’s executive committee and how much discovery material can be made public.

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