An appeals court has found that Syracuse University’s insurer must cover the school’s costs of answering subpoenas during the criminal investigation of sexual molestation charges against former basketball coach Bernie Fine. Without elaboration, the Appellate Division, Fourth Department, affirmed Onondaga County Supreme Court Justice Donald Greenwood’s (See Profile) ruling that the National Union Fire Insurance Co. of Pittsburgh is responsible for coverage of the college’s costs of complying with the subpoenas in excess of $250,000.
The university estimated it spent “millions” of dollars in 2011 and 2012 answering the six subpoenas, three each from Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick and Northern District U.S. Attorney Richard Hartunian. Both prosecutors concluded their probes without bringing criminal charges against Fine after two former ball boys to the Syracuse team complained that the coach molested them in the early 2000s at his home and during road trips.
