BELLEFONTE, Pa. -- A jury awarded a former Penn State assistant football coach $7.3 million in damages Thursday, finding the university defamed him after it became public that his testimony helped prosecutors charge Jerry Sandusky with child molestation.Jurors deliberated for about four hours in Mike McQuearys defamation and misrepresentation suit.Judge Thomas Gavin still must decide McQuearys whistleblower claim that he was treated unfairly as the school suspended him from coaching duties, placed him on paid administrative leave, barred him from team facilities and then did not renew his contract shortly after he testified at Sanduskys 2012 trial.McQueary remained stoic as the verdict was read, and he and his lawyers made no comment as they left the courthouse.A Penn State spokesman said the university would not comment on the case and the jurys decision until a final decision is rendered on all counts.McQueary had been seeking more than $4 million in lost wages and other damages, saying he was defamed by a statement the school president released the day Sandusky was charged, retaliated against for helping with the Sandusky investigation and misled by school administrators.Sandusky, a former defensive coach at Penn State, was convicted in 2012 of sexual abuse of 10 boys and is serving a 30- to 60-year prison sentence. He maintains his innocence.He should not have been the scapegoat, lawyer Elliot Strokoff said of McQueary, speaking to jurors.In closing arguments earlier Thursday, Penn State attorney Nancy Conrad emphasized McQueary had said he was damaged by public criticism that he did not to go to police or child welfare authorities when he saw Sandusky sexually abusing a boy in a team shower in 2001. Instead he reported it the next day to then-head coach Joe Paterno.Mr. McQueary was not damaged by any action of the university, Conrad argued. Mr. McQueary, as he testified and as he recognized, if he was harmed, was harmed by national media and public opinion.McQueary testified he has not been able to find work, either in coaching or elsewhere, but Conrad blamed that on an inadequate network of contacts and the lack of a national reputation.McQueary was not allowed to coach in the schools first game after Paterno was fired, a home loss to Nebraska.That sends a very clear signal to those in your network that the university doesnt want you to be supported, Strokoff said. Stay away, youre a nonperson.Penn State has argued it put McQueary on leave out of safety concerns, as threats were fielded by the university.Strokoff said there was no evidence of multiple death threats against his client and called McQuearys treatment outrageous.Jurors awarded McQueary $1.15 million on the defamation claim and $1.15 million on the misrepresentation allegation that two administrators lied to him when they said they took his report of Sandusky seriously and would respond appropriately. They awarded $5 million in punitive damages.Conrad insisted the university did take steps to inform McQueary about the actions it was taking, which included telling Sandusky to stop bringing children into team facilities and meeting with Sandusky and an official from the childrens welfare charity he founded.No one told Mr. McQueary, You cannot go to the police, Conrad said.The defamation claim involved a statement issued by then-Penn State president Graham Spanier expressing support for the two administrators when they were charged with perjury for allegedly lying about what McQueary told them in the weeks after the 2001 incident.A state appeals court earlier this year dismissed the perjury charges against the administrators, former athletic director Tim Curley and former vice president Gary Schultz. But Curley, Schultz and Spanier still await trial in Harrisburg on charges of failure to properly report suspected child abuse and endangering the welfare of children.Strokoff said Spaniers statement could have led people to conclude McQueary was a liar.Cheap MLB Jerseys Authentic . The mixed zone is not a place to make friends. Cheap Cincinnati Reds Jerseys . - The Oakland Raiders re-signed offensive lineman Khalif Barnes on Friday. http://www.cheapredsjerseys.com/?tag=cheap-johnny-bench-jersey . -- Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Alrdridge were again the go-to duo for the Trail Blazers against the Kings. Cheap Reds Jerseys Authentic . The showiest items on Calgarys lot were forwards Mike Cammalleri and Lee Stempniak. Both will be unrestricted free agents this summer. Cheap Reggie Sanders Jersey . Supported by three-run homers from Jayson Werth and Wilson Ramos, the young right-hander went seven strong innings in the Washington Nationals 8-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night.ELON, N.C. -- Harold Cooper ran for 155 yards and a touchdown to help Rhode Island beat Elon 44-14 on Saturday to stop a 23-game losing streak on the road.This was the first meeting between the schools and both had been struggling. Rhode Island (2-8, 1-6 Colonial) had dropped four consecutive games and Elon (2-8, 1-6) has now lost six straight. The Rams had also lost 10 straight conference games.Jordan Vazzano threw for 226 yards and two touchdowns as Rhode Island dominated the second half, 31--7.ddddddddddddCooper, who had a 99-yard kick return two weeks ago, returned a kickoff 98 yards for a score in the final quarter. Cooper now has 1,204 career return yards.Justin Rohrwasser totaled 14 points as he booted three field goals, the longest being 42 yards, and kicked five extra points.Daniel Thompson led the Phoenix, passing for 193 yards and one touchdown.Cheap Jerseys China NFL Jerseys ssketball Jerseys[/url] Wholesale Baseball Jerseys ' ' '
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