Penn State football coach James Franklin responded Tuesday to a lawsuit filed against him and the university that alleges he pressured a team doctor to clear players who were injured, saying “we’ll continue to vigorously defend our program” against allegations of wrongdoing.
Speaking on his first weekly teleconference of the 2019 season, Franklin first referenced a statement issued Monday by Penn State Health, also named in the lawsuit, over former team orthopedic physician Scott A. Lynch’s suit that seeks $50,000 in damages.
"Obviously I'd like to start with a statement rejecting Dr. Lynch's claims," Franklin said in his first public comments about the suit. "We'll continue to vigorously defend our program and all participants in this manner. As always, the health and well-being of our student-athletes is of the utmost importance to us. But after that, we'll have no further comment, so I just wanted to make sure we covered that."
In the lawsuit, Lynch claims Franklin attempted on "multiple and repeated occasions" to interfere with the doctor's authority. Lynch said he was removed from his position as director of athletic medicine in March because of his complaints about Franklin’s alleged actions.
The lawsuit contends that Lynch was being punished for reporting Franklin to higher-ups and that constitutes violation of the Pennsylvania Whistleblower Law.
A coach who interferes with a medical staff's diagnoses or otherwise infringes on doctors' autonomy also would be in violation of Big Ten and NCAA rules.
The suit also claims Lynch was removed in an effort by Penn State to avoid scandal.
Penn State Health, in its statement Monday, said the change in team doctors was made in the "best interests of student-athletes."
"While we reject Dr. Lynch's claims and will vigorously defend our program and its representatives, we remain grateful to him for his five years as director of athletic medicine for Intercollegiate Athletics and for his continued association with Penn State Health," the statement said.
No. 15 Penn State opens its season Saturday at home against Idaho.
