Gov. Tom Corbett’s antitrust lawsuit against the NCAA will head to court in two weeks.
On May 1, Judge Yvette Kane will hear oral arguments in the NCAA’s motion to dismiss Corbett’s lawsuit. The governor is asking the courts to throw out the sanctions imposed against Penn State as a result of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.
Corbett announced his intent to sue the NCAA for a violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act in January at a press conference held at the Nittany Lion Inn. Corbett believes the sanctions not only have a negative effect on the university but on the economy of State College and the surrounding area.
When the case was first announced, Gov. Corbett said he was suing the NCAA because the trade association overstepped its bylaws when “a small group of folks went alone on this.” The actions taken by the NCAA in handing down unprecedented penalties will be felt for years if action is not taken to overturn them, Corbett said.
“In the wake of this terrible scandal, Penn State was left to heal and clean up this tragedy that was created by the few. The students, the alumni, the board, the administration and faculty all came together at that moment and began to rebuild.
“At that same time, while the healing was taking place, the NCAA piled on, choosing to levy, in their words, ‘unprecedented sanctions’ against Penn State and its football program,” Corbett said.
Last July, NCAA President Mark Emmert announced those sanctions against Penn State, which included a four year postseason ban for the football team, lost scholarships, wins under former coach Joe Paterno vacated between 1998-2011 and a fine of $60 million.
The NCAA filed to have the case dismissed two months ago. The NCAA is arguing that because the sanctions do not directly regulate economic activity of the university, they should not be subject to an antitrust action.
Penn State is not a party to Corbett’s lawsuit.
