Lawyers for one of Jerry Sandusky’s alleged victims went to court earlier this week to try and stop the charity the alleged child sex abuser founded from diverting and/or transferring assets, the New York Times reported.
The injunction -- filed in state court Wednesday -- seeks to freeze the more than $9 million that the Second Mile reportedly had in assets last year, the Times reported.
Lawyers representing “Victim 4” say that at least 11 other people allegedly victimized by Sandusky plan on suing the charity found almost 35 years ago by the former Penn State assistant football coach, the Times said.
- Special Section: Penn State Child Sex Abuse Scandal
Sandusky faces 40 counts of sexual abuse -- accused of using the Second Mile to meet some of his alleged victims.
Lawyers for some of his victims explained to the Times why they wanted to freeze Sandusky's charity's assets:
“We felt it was necessary to take this action after learning the organization was considering transferring its programs and not continuing its operations,” Benjamin Andreozzi and Jeffrey Fritz, lawyers for a client they referred to as Victim 4, said in a statement. “We believe it is in the best interest of our clients, as well as the other victims, to ensure that the organization is being financially responsible.”
Andreozzi, based in Harrisburg, Pa., has advised or is representing several Sandusky accusers. He recently partnered with Fritz, a Philadelphia lawyer. The injunction requests that Second Mile assets “not be dissipated, encumbered or in any way obligated or disturbed in any form and should be available to victims of sexual abuse.”
Sources told NBC Philadelphia last week that the Second Mile -- an organization geared towards serving disadvantaged children -- was considering closing down and dispersing its programming to other non-profits.
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The injunction wouldn’t stop the State College-based charity from its current operation but would safeguard any organization money from being untouchable in civil proceedings, lawyers told the Time.
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