Thirty former Ohio State football players have joined the growing class of plaintiffs suing the university over alleged sexual abuse by longtime sports medicine physician Richard Strauss.
In an announcement, the players, which includes teammates and former NFL players Ray Ellis, Al Washington and Keith Ferguson, the player acknowledged they will be joining the lawsuit.
Other OSU football players have previously sued the university and had their claims settled under pseudonyms.
“Since 2018, Ohio State has sincerely and persistently tried to reconcile with survivors, including former football student-athletes, through monetary and non-monetary means, including settlements, counseling services and other medical treatment,” a school spokesperson said.
According to Sportico, since 2018, more than 520 former Ohio State students have filed lawsuits against the school tied to Strauss, who died by suicide in 2005. OSU has reached settlements with 317 of those plaintiffs, paying out a combined $61 million, while leaving still more than 200 active litigants. Beyond them, there are a number of other class members.
The allegations against Strauss have embroiled the university in scandal, with some accusers alleging the school engaged in a coverup and failed to act on legitimate complaints against the former athletic trainer.
In May 2019, Ohio State released an independent investigative report by the law firm Perkins Coie, which stated that out of the 177 individuals who provided firsthand accounts of sexual misconduct by Strauss, only three were football players. By contrast, 48 were wrestlers and 16 were gymnasts.
“We stand together in solidarity as former teammates and Buckeyes who love our university and the legacy of Coach Woody Hayes,” Washington said in his statement. “Coach Hayes always preached to us to ‘Pay Forward.’ Using our voices to pay forward in this situation is not easy, but we believe it is necessary to protect future athletes and to ensure accountability for what has happened to us.”
