STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (January 2, 2012)--An antitrust lawsuit filed by Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett against the NCAA argues that the organization acted illegally and was motivated by a desire to gain power for its president and weaken the university in imposing stiff sanctions against Penn State.

The 43-page complaint being filed Wednesday seeks to vacate all of the punishment related to the Jerry Sandusky child molestation scandal, including a $60 million fine and four-year bowl ban.

The lawsuit claims the NCAA was motivated by a desire to "gain leverage in the court of public opinion."

The NCAA said it's disappointed in Corbett's lawsuit, and called it meritless and an "affront" to Sandusky's victims.

Corbett says the university and state have been harmed by what he calls "harsh penalties."

The family of late longtime Penn State coach Joe Paterno said Wednesday it’s encouraged by the suit.

The late football coach's family released a statement Wednesday that says that Gov. Tom Corbett "now realizes, as do many others, that there was an inexcusable rush to judgment" in the aftermath of the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal.