COLUMBUS, OHIO — Ohio State University agreed to pay $100 million in damages to 279 former students who alleged sexual assault by a former campus physician. The Ohio State University Board of Trustees ratified the settlement agreements in principle, and United States District Court Judge Michael Watson dismissed the lawsuits with prejudice.
The settlement agreement was signed by 279 of the 280 remaining survivors involved in five active federal lawsuits. One survivor declined to join the settlement agreement.
A court-appointed special master will interview the plaintiffs to assess harm levels and allocate settlement funds. Ohio State University previously settled claims with 317 survivors for over $61 million.
Richard Strauss served as an Ohio State University physician from 1978 to 1998, and he died by suicide in 2005. Former wrestler Mike DiSabato publicly alleged sexual abuse by Strauss in March 2018. Former Columbus Division of Fire Chief Jeffrey Happ, former Columbus Division of Police deputy chief Tim Becker, and former Columbus firefighter Todd Schroeck also spoke publicly about alleged sexual abuse by Strauss.
Ohio State University retained the law firm Perkins Coie to conduct an independent investigation into the allegations. Perkins Coie released an investigation report in May 2019, concluding that Strauss sexually abused at least 177 students between the mid-1970s and late 1990s. The independent investigation also concluded that coaches and university administrators were aware of the abuse allegations for two decades and did not intervene.
U.S. Representative Jim Jordan, who worked as an assistant wrestling coach at Ohio State University from 1986 to 1994, denied knowing about the alleged sexual abuse of athletes by Strauss. Former Ohio State athletic director Andy Geiger testified under oath that Jordan likely knew about Strauss abusing wrestlers.
Ohio State University and its former president publicly apologized to individuals who alleged they were abused by Strauss. Ohio State University President Ravi Bellamkonda said, "The survivors of the Strauss abuse are all Buckeyes. 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."
Ohio State University stated that taxpayer, tuition, and restricted donor funds will not be used for the settlement payments. The university is funding counseling services and medical treatment for survivors and their families.