Nassar fund to be divided on variables
DETROIT — The $500 million settlement between Michigan State University and hundreds of Larry Nassar’s victims will be divided up after weighing many factors, including the date and victim’s age when the sexual assaults occurred and the impact it had on their lives, lawyers say.
The school, where the sports doctor worked for nearly 20 years, announced Wednesday that it would set aside $425 million for 332 women and girls who say Nassar abused them and another $75 million to cover future claims. But it won’t have a role in determining how much each victim will receive.
That will likely fall to one or two former judges or experienced mediators who will be selected by lawyers to oversee the process, said John Manly, who represents roughly 200 victims in the worst sexual abuse case in sports history.
“This can be wrapped up in four or five months,” he predicted.
Simple math says $425 million divided by 332 people would be $1.28 million each. But it’s not “share and share alike,” said attorney David Mittleman, whose Lansing-area firm represents 111 victims.
Greitens vows to fight
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Drawing on his Navy SEAL training, Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens asserted Thursday that he will not quit or back down despite a criminal charge and potential impeachment proceedings involving various allegations of misconduct against him.
Mr. Greitens’ comments came as Missouri lawmakers and the governor’s legal team escalated their battle in advance of a special legislative session starting Friday focused on disciplining the governor.
A House panel sued two of Mr. Greitens’ political committees Thursday to try to enforce subpoenas seeking records as part of an investigation into whether he tried “to circumvent Missouri’s campaign finance disclosure laws.”
Mr. Greitens hosted a rare public event Thursday in Jefferson City to announce funding for biodiesel facilities. At the end of a celebratory speech, he shifted topics to the challenges he’s facing and recounted how he once felt like quitting during a grueling Navy SEAL training session in which his team of seven men had to carry a heavy log over a beach. Mr. Greitens said he kept going for the good of the team.
Police trace teen’s gun
DIXON, Ill. — A teenager used a 9 mm semiautomatic rifle in firing shots at a northern Illinois high school before he was shot by a school resource officer, police said Thursday.
Illinois State Police also said Matthew Milby’s mother bought the weapon in 2012 and that investigators were working to determine how he obtained it.
Classes were canceled Thursday at Dixon High School, a day after authorities say Mr. Milby, 19, showed up in the morning as seniors met for a graduation rehearsal and fired several shots inside the building.
Mr. Milby, who was wounded in an exchange of gunfire with the officer, was transferred Thursday from a hospital to the Lee County Jail, the Dixon Police Department said. He was in custody under a $2 million bond.