Ohio State University reaches $100 million settlement in sex abuse lawsuits
NBC News • • general
Key Points:
- Ohio State University has agreed to pay $100 million in damages to 279 former students who accused campus doctor Richard Strauss of sexual assault spanning decades, with one plaintiff opting out of the settlement agreement.
- The settlement aims to resolve an eight-year legal battle alleging the university knew about Strauss's abuse, primarily of male athletes, but failed to intervene.
- A court-appointed special master will interview the survivors to assess harm levels and determine individual settlement amounts in the coming weeks.
- OSU has previously settled claims with 317 other survivors for over $61 million and publicly apologized for the abuse, which occurred from the mid-1970s to late 1990s; Strauss died by suicide in 2005.
- Allegations include claims that former OSU assistant wrestling coach and U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan knew about the abuse but did not act, a charge Jordan has consistently denied despite testimony suggesting he "probably knew" of the misconduct.