Why is Penn State afraid that the Paterno family will sue them?

[Manwiththeplan]

Can someone help me figure this out? I get there there was money the school still owed him, and I get the Paterno had given a lot of money to the school in the past, but on what grounds could the family sue the school? Is the family trying to get the "gift" money back? To me, and this will sound harsh, but considering the benefits his wife and family were given (survivor's annuity and others) I don't see what their complaint was. I'm not trying to bash Paterno so everyone keep your high horses away, but if he was fired I don't see how the school should be on the hook for a survivor's annuity, and any other bonus' that werern't reached prior to his termination.

For more info, check out this article on espn or this other one on espn

FWIW, I can't see how a fired state employee could be in line to recieve $5.5 million

 

[Aikbach]

Probably too convoluted to understand on the outside looking in, or it could just be a wrongly placed sense of entitlement from a grieving family. No matter one's opinion of JoePa in the Sandusky scandal, it is apparent the stress of the ordeal contributed to his sudden death, he was elderly and fragile and undoubtedly under difficult duress from the scrutiny, press and investigation, it is my opinion it killed him.