Ohio State is planning a new program that will allow it to settle remaining abuse claims over alleged sexual misconduct by former team doctor Richard Strauss.
Court filings obtained by ABC News show Ohio State intends to form an “individual settlement program” this month form plaintiffs from five ongoing lawsuits. The university said it is committed to providing an average settlement of up to about $252,000 per person. ABC reports that is the average of the nearly $47 million in settlements reached previously for 185 of the plaintiffs.
The program is intended to allow remaining plaintiffs to settle their cases. Others say they’ll continue with litigation.
Attorney Rocky Ratliff called the filing “disgusting,” saying that remaining plaintiffs are being offered far less than previous accusers received.
When asked whether he accept OSU’s settlements, Ratliff said, “’No’ would be an understatement.”
An estimated 400 men have sued the university during that past the years over the school’s failure to stop Strauss, who died in 2005, from abusing students even after concerns were brought to administrators’ attention.
Enrollment in the individual settlement program would be open for the next four months.
“Ohio State continues its effort to reconcile and restore the bond between itself and its former students and alumni who were impacted by Strauss, and join with them in the healing process,” Michael Carpenter, a lawyer representing Ohio State, said in a filing.
An investigation conducted for the school by a law firm found that Strauss’ sexual misconduct under the guise of medical treatment spanned the two decades he was employed at the school, working with various athletic teams, a student health center and his off-campus clinic.
