WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — A former Penn State football player has resolved his sexual harassment lawsuit stemming from locker room incidents with an undisclosed settlement. Isaiah Humphries, who filed the suit against his former teammate Damion Barber, dismissed the case in U.S. Middle District Court.
The dismissal was documented in a notice filed Friday, and Judge Matthew W. Brann later confirmed that the settlement was conditional on Barber making a payment to Humphries. Details of the agreement have not been made public, but Humphries’ attorney, Steven F. Marino, noted the settlement parallels a tentative deal reached last year that had issues.
Barber’s legal representative, Anthony G. DeBoef, chose not to comment on the dismissal, which occurred just days before a civil trial was set to begin. With Barber’s claims settled, Marino plans to appeal a previous court decision that dismissed claims against Penn State and head coach James Franklin.
Humphries’ allegations include that he faced abuse in the locker room from Barber and other teammates, including notable players such as Micah Parsons and Yetur Gross-Matos. However, the current lawsuit targeted only Barber. Marino maintains that the toxic culture within the team contributed to a climate of bullying and harassment that went unchecked by adults in the program.
Brann had previously permitted Humphries to introduce evidence in court that purportedly demonstrated a pervasive environment of bullying during the 2018 season. This evidence could suggest that coaches were either unaware or complicit in the misconduct.
Humphries’ allegations included significant engagements of physical harassment, with some accounts suggesting that Barber and other teammates would frequently initiate inappropriate behavior under the guise of horseplay. An investigation by the university’s Office of Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response confirmed sanctions against Barber for harassment following Humphries’ complaints.
Marino has accused the Penn State administration of negligence in protecting players from the negative effects of the alleged locker room culture. He expressed intent to continue pursuing accountability, emphasizing the need for the university to acknowledge its role in the alleged harassment that occurred.
As the legal battle continues, Humphries has articulated a broader concern about the bullying culture in sports, emphasizing that fear of retaliation often prevents players from coming forward with their experiences. The structure of competitive athletics, he asserts, needs to be scrutinized to ensure the safety and well-being of all student-athletes.
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