Penn State's assistant coach McQueary plans to sue university

STATE COLLEGE, Pa.—Pennsylvania State University assistant football coach Michael J. McQueary this week filed notice of his intention to bring a lawsuit against the university in connection with the child sexual abuse allegations against former assistant football coach Gerald A. Sandusky.

Mr. McQueary who, according to a grand jury report, observed Mr. Sandusky sexually abusing a boy in a Penn State shower facility and reported the incident to school officials in 2002, was placed on administrative leave in November.

The clerk's office of the Centre County, Pa. Court of Common Pleas confirmed that Mr. McQueary filed a “writ of summons” Tuesday against Penn State, a spokeswoman said.

“The University has not yet received the complaint and thus cannot comment on it,” a Penn State spokesman said in an email.

The notice announcing the suit was not accompanied by a formal complaint which would provide details of the allegations, but experts reportedly described it as a whistle-blower case.

Penn State confirmed that Mr. McQueary is on paid administrative leave but could not comment further due to it being a “personnel matter,” the spokesman said.

Calls to Mr. McQueary's attorney were not immediately returned.

The university said it maintains general liability and directors and officers liability insurance policies, which are expected to cover the defense of claims brought against the university and its officers, employees and trustees.

As of Feb. 29, Penn State has paid more than $7.6 million in legal fees and to consulting and public relations firms as it addresses the child sexual abuse allegations against Mr. Sandusky, according to the university's website.