Ohio State settles some suits over abuse claims

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State reached an unspecified settlement with nearly half of the roughly 350 men who say they were sexually abused decades ago by a team doctor who was jokingly known among some athletes by nicknames like “Dr. Jelly Paws.”

The settlement announced Friday is the first for accusers of the late Richard Strauss, who say the doctor groped and otherwise mistreated students for two decades while school officials knew about concerns but did little to stop him.

With the settlement not yet finalized, the school and others involved are staying mum about how much would be paid.

Ohio State said in a statement that a special overseer independent of the university will help allocate the funds to individual accusers based on their experiences and the harm done. The payments will come from “existing institutional discretionary funding,” not tuition or taxpayer or donor money, according to the school.

Rick Schulte, a lawyer who represented former Ohio State football players, wrestlers and other athletes, said the settlement will help the men move forward and heal.

“The bravery of our clients is humbling,” Schulte said in the statement shared by the university. “We are pleased that Ohio State stepped forward and did the right thing.”

Schulte and university officials wouldn’t say whether specifics of the settlement had yet been shared with the affected plaintiffs.

“Strauss’ conduct was reprehensible, and the university’s failures at the time are completely unacceptable,” Ohio State President Michael Drake said in the Friday statement. “While nothing can undo what happened here years ago, today’s university has a responsibility to support our former students and alumni, and this initial settlement is another important step in the process of restorative justice.”

Mike DiSabato, the ex-wrestler whose claims in 2018 helped prompt the university to have a law firm investigate allegations about the doctor, said the settlement isn’t what he hoped but “is a deal that allows us to move forward with closure.”

It remains to be seen how the deal might compare with those from other recent sexual misconduct scandals at major universities, including Michigan State’s $500 million settlement for 500-plus female victims of imprisoned sports doctor Larry Nassar.

Lawsuits by other Strauss accusers remain unresolved after months of mediation, and they have asked a judge to let them resume litigation.