Former Penn State Doctor Wins $5.25 Million In Wrongful Termination Suit

A former Penn State Nittany Lions team physician has gotten a massive payout in court after claiming that he was wrongfully removed from his position as the team's orthopedic doctor. after complaining about head coach James Franklin interfering with decisions on players' medical treatments.

According to Sports Illustrated, Dr. Scott Lynch was awarded $5.25 million in damages — $250,000 in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive — thanks to a decision from a Dauphin County jury on Wednesday in the state capital of Harrisburg.

While Lynch won his case in Pennsylvania, he told ESPN that he hopes his case raises awareness of what he says is an issue across the country.

"This is bigger than just Penn State," he said. "It's really a national crisis and things have to change."

Lynch filed his civil suit way back in 2019 and named Penn State Health, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, and Dr. Kevin Black (Lynch's old supervisor) as plaintiffs. 

The suit was reportedly filed about six months after Lynch was let go from his position, which superiors said was because the team wanted a physician based in State College. Lynch was commuting 100 miles or so from Hershey. 

Lynch however alleged that he had been removed from the position because he had reported Franklin's alleged attempts to interfere with both the athletic department and Penn State Health officials. This included an incident described by Lynch's former colleague Dr. Peter Seidenberg, in which Franklin allegedly "was trying to influence medical decision" regarding an athlete with a high-ankle sprain. 

"We were being pressured to release the athlete," Seidenberg said, per ESPN.

A former Penn State doctor her gotten a massive payout after claiming he had been removed from his position for reporting alleged interference in players' medical decisions by head coach James Franklin. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

So this has been a long time coming, but still, it won't surprise you that Penn State wasn't exactly jazzed about having to pay out that money, and they've got plans to appeal.

"We are extremely disappointed to learn of the jury’s decision, as we continue to believe that the claims in the complaint have no merit," a Penn State Health statement reads.

"Penn State Health will soon determine whether it will appeal the decision. Penn State Health and the University remain dedicated to the health and well-being of our student-athletes."

I think we all get the sense that this one is far from over.