by  John Beauge | Special to Penn Live | published May 23, 2025

WILLIAMSPORT — A former Penn State football player may present evidence in an upcoming civil trial to support his claim a culture of abuse and bullying permeated in the locker room seven years ago.

However, U.S. Middle District Judge Mathew W. Brann on Thursday ruled just because the evidence is admissible, it does not mean Isaiah Humphries has carte blanche to attack Penn State at will.

“If he has evidence he can make the point that the Penn State football team had a culture of bullying and, if supportable, can argue that coaches were oblivious or complicit,” the judge wrote.

The former Texas high school star has said he wants to present evidence that he was a victim of “a thug-like bullying culture” in the locker room.

Brann’s ruling is a setback for Humphries’ ex-teammate Damion Barber who sought to keep such evidence out of the trial scheduled for early June.

Barber is the only remaining defendant in the suit in which Humphries claims he was sexually harassed in the locker room in 2018.

Brann cautioned Humphries he may not impugn Penn State or head coach James Franklin because neither is on trial. The judge dismissed them from the case in 2021.

He warned Humphries he would have little patience for attempts to push the limits of his ruling in his favor.

Evidence showing hazing was prevalent on the Penn State football team would tend to make more probable Humphries’ contentions Barber was bullying him in the locker room, the judge wrote explaining his ruling.

But if the evidence suggests there was a strict no-tolerance culture for bullying, it would tend to help Barber, he said.

Humphries contends he was victimized by players including Micah Parsons, Yetur Gross-Matos, Jesse Luketa and Barber, but he sued only the latter.

Humphries also will be permitted over Barber’s objection to present evidence other players engaged in bullying and hazing. The judge again advised him to make the point without belaboring it.

His suit alleges Barber and the other harassers would overpower him, throw him to the ground and get on top of him, occasionally while he was unclothed or wearing only a towel.

Barber accuses Humphries of manufacturing the entire case to justify the NCAA giving him a waiver to play football at the University of California on scholarship. Humphries transferred there after the 2018 season.

Brann addressed other issues raised by Barber in his pretrial motion this way:

* The name of Jerry Sandusky, the former assistant coach who is serving a 30-to-60-year sentence for sexually abusing young boys he met through his Second Mile charity, can be mentioned only in the context Barber is alleged to have threatened “to Sandusky” Humphries.

There can be no references to Sandusky’s conduct between 1995 and 2008 that led to his conviction.

* Humphries may not present evidence of Barber’s non-football allegations of misconduct that included him having an unauthorized motorcycle on campus and being violent in personal relationships outside of the team.

* Evidence of general hazing at Penn State, including the Timothy Piazza tragedy, is not relevant to the specific issues in this case and is barred.

But Humphries may refer to the state anti-hazing law that is named for Piazza.

Piazza died two days after being forced to consume excessive amounts of alcohol and falling down steps at a 2017 pledge event at the Beta Sigma Pi fraternity house. That fraternity no longer exists at Penn State.

* Evidence on Humphries demand for NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) damages will not be allowed because they were not sought in the complaint or any briefing.

Further, speculation on whether Humphries would have gotten an NIL deal if he remained at Penn State and what those damages might be is far beyond a reasonable juror’s capacity.

* Leonard Humphries, the plaintiff’s father, may testify with defense objections related to hearsay decided at the trial.

That testimony may be about his son’s health and demeanor as related to damages which Barber wanted precluded because the elder Humphries does not have a medical degree.

Brann deferred until trial decisions on several other issues Barber raised.

If you or someone you know believes you have been sexually harassed, assaulted or injured, Marino Associates can help.  Use the free case evaluation form  or call 215-462-3200 to speak to one of our expert attorneys who will give you immediate answers to important questions.