Ohio State University’s board of trustees voted Wednesday to approve a settlement worth roughly $100 million for hundreds of former student athletes who were sexually abused by a university physician decades ago.
The university has been defending against federal lawsuits since 2018 filed by former student athletes who accused the school of failing to prevent abuse by Dr. Richard Strauss. The doctor was employed at the university between 1978 and 1998 and operated a clinic off campus. He passed away in 2005.
At Wednesday’s board meeting, trustees gave preliminary approval to settle with all except one of the 280 abuse survivors whose legal claims remain active in court proceedings. When completed, this agreement could bring closure to years of litigation and end a dark period in the university’s past.
“The survivors of the Strauss abuse are all Buckeyes, will always be a part of our family and our community, and I firmly believe that,” university president Ravi Bellamkonda stated at the meeting. “We continue to be very grateful to them for their courage in coming forward, and reaching a final resolution is very important to us and is an important step forward.”
An independent investigation previously determined that numerous Ohio State staff members were aware of complaints regarding Strauss’ behavior starting in 1979 but failed to conduct proper investigations or take significant action for years.
In a combined statement Wednesday, the university and legal representatives expressed gratitude to mediators and confirmed they are working to complete the settlement terms.
The university had previously reached settlements with 317 survivors totaling more than $61 million. Many former student athletes entered into confidential agreements that protected their identities. Former NFL players were among those who suffered abuse, according to legal counsel involved in the cases.
