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NCAA's Lawyers Go On Offensive In Paterno Lawsuit

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The NCAA says a lawsuit against it by the family of late Penn State football coach Joe Paterno and others is fatally flawed and should be thrown out.

An NCAA filing Thursday in Centre County court says the lawsuit contains "sundry misdirected complaints." It argues the plaintiffs don't have standing to challenge the consent agreement between the NCAA and Penn State over the child molestation scandal involving ex-assistant coach Jerry Sandusky.

It says Paterno's estate and Penn State trustees, faculty, former players and former coaches are "the wrong plaintiffs" and "have sued the wrong defendant."

NCAA lawyers say Paterno's estate was unable to say how its commercial interest in his reputation's lost value.

A filing by the plaintiffs had said the scandal branded Penn State coaches with a "scarlet letter."

Sandusky was convicted of abuse but says he's innocent.

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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