Plaintiffs in the Tamaqua Area School District “hazing” lawsuit received $50,000 through the district’s insurance company, according to a settlement agreement approved in November.

The district, through insurer LM Insurance Corp., paid $50,000 to the families of two freshman football players to settle the lawsuit stemming from a 2021 hazing incident.

The district had denied, disputed and defended against the claims in the suit, which alleged a sexual assault of the freshman players by football team members at the district’s field house.

Through the agreement, the players’ families agree to forego further litigation over the claims.

The settlement agreement, which the Times News obtained through a state Right to Know Law request, also bars all parties from discussing the terms of the agreement.

Neither the board nor its administrators discussed the settlement agreement or any of its terms when approved in November, only to approve the settlement on 5-2 vote.

Board President Larry Wittig and Board Vice President Nicholas Boyle voted against the settlement.

The Times News also requested through a state Right to Know Law request the amount of legal costs the district incurred defending the suit.

The district responded with correspondence from insurers, the Seltzer Group, stating that TASD is only responsible for a $5,000 deductible on the claim.

Background

The 45-page federal lawsuit filed by the families claimed the football team had a “tradition” of sexually assaulting “certain freshman players by holding them down on the ground, beating them up,” and attempting penetration with an object.

Wittig had referred to the incident as “hazing” and “horseplay.”

The incidents reportedly occurred in the district’s field house at 329 Orwigsburg St., which is across the street from high school/middle school.

Players store equipment and change for practices and games in the building. Players were unsupervised in the building.

An 18-year-old player, Zachary McGlinchey, was charged with simple assault and harassment. He was admitted into the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program.

Two juveniles faced summary harassment charges. Three students were expelled.