Penn State GC Violated Privilege, Appeals Court Finds

A three-judge panel of a Pennsylvania appeals court found that Penn State’s then-general counsel, Cynthia Baldwin, violated attorney client privilege by testifying against former administrators accused of covering up the Jerry Sandusky child molestation scandal before a grand jury.  As a result, several of the more serious criminal charges leveled against the men—perjury, obstruction and conspiracy counts—have been dismissed. “Ms. Baldwin did not adequately explain to [athletic director Tim Curley] that her representation of him was solely as an agent of Penn State and that she did not represent his individual interests,” Judge Mary Jane Bowes wrote. The administrators are still charged with failure to report suspected abuse and endangering the welfare of children.