COLUMBUS (WCMH) — Ohio State University has announced it has reached a $40.9 million settlement with 162 survivors in the Richard Strauss sexual abuse case.
According to a release from the Ohio State University, the settlement was reached in 12 lawsuits related to sexual abuse by Richard Strauss, a university-employed physician from 1978 to 1998 who died in 2005.
“The university of decades ago failed these individuals – our students, alumni and members of the Buckeye community,” said President Michael V. Drake. “Nothing can undo the wrongs of the past, but we must do what we can today to work toward restorative justice.”
The Qualified Settlement Fund to be funded by Ohio State totals $40,913,265. Amounts received by survivors will vary by individual as awarded by the special master. As part of the agreement, Ohio State will provide up to $500,000 to fund the costs of administering the fund. No taxpayer, tuition or restricted donor funds will be utilized.
“Our focus will always be on the survivors. We know it took great courage for them to come forward, and we are grateful,” stated Drake.
An independent investigation launched by the university determined Strauss abused students for more than 20 years.
Friday’s settlement announcement covers plaintiffs in the so-called Dayton Group, and their attorney says he considers it fair.
“Everyone is on the same page. Everyone is satisfied with regards to this solution. Everyone signed off on this resolution and we are letting the administrator do his job in making sure that the allocations are fair and those individuals will be taken care of,” said Michael Wright.
The fund administrator will decide how to split the money, depending on the harm suffered by each individual plaintiff.
That includes former wrestler Michael Disabito, the whistleblower who in 2018, publicly pressured the university to open the investigation into Dr. Strauss.
Disabito says he finds the settlement to be fair, but is mostly happy for closure of a bitter fight.
But more than 100 claims against the university are still being argued in federal court. Those plaintiffs won the right to continue the legal proceedings. A
An OSU spokesperson says mediation is ongoing, but plaintiffs in the case tell NBC4’s Colleen Marshall there have been no mediation sessions for months and none are scheduled.
“Since this started, I have gone through two Thanksgivings, two Christmases, two New Years, the impeachment of a president, and now a pandemic, and we are still waiting for them to take action,” said plaintiff Stephen Snyder-Hill.
But more than 100 claims against the university are still being argued in federal court. Those plaintiffs won the right to continue the legal proceedings. A
An OSU spokesperson says mediation is ongoing, but plaintiffs in the case tell NBC4’s Colleen Marshall there have been no mediation sessions for months and none are scheduled.
“Since this started, I have gone through two Thanksgivings, two Christmases, two New Years, the impeachment of a president, and now a pandemic, and we are still waiting for them to take action,” said plaintiff Stephen Snyder-Hill.
In April, a federal judge partly unpaused litigation against OSU over the decades-old sexual abuse by Strauss, while noting mediation toward possible settlements should continue as the lawsuits proceed.
