Arguments for whether the delay granted to Graham Spanier in his defamation suit against Louis Freeh should be axed will be heard by a three-judge Superior Court panel today at 1 p.m. in Philadelphia.

Centre County Judge Jonathan Grine ruled in Spanier’s favor in February that the case be put on hold until the criminal proceedings against Spanier, Tim Curley and Gary Schultz are finished, writing that the allegations against Spanier in the Freeh Report and in the commonwealth’s criminal case against the trio are the same in essence. He also cited Spanier’s ability to invoke the Fifth Amendment in depositions related to the case that would prevent information for the civil suit from being collected.

But Freeh appealed that ruling, and it was granted by a Pennsylvania Superior Court in April after having been denied in Centre County.

Spanier sued Freeh and Freeh, Sporkin & Sullivan, his law firm at the time of the report’s publishing, in July 2013, requesting monetary damages for statements he viewed defaming in the Freeh Report. Thus far, the case has been a back-and-forth of motions and arguments with no testimony. A trial date has not been announced for the criminal case, either. Today’s arguments will be heard by presiding judge Jack Panella, Anne Lazarus and Patricia Jenkins.

UPDATE, 4:08 p.m.: No ruling was made after today’s arguments, nor was a ruling date specified, according to The Associated Press.

About the Author

Tim Gilbert

Former managing editor and staff writer.

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