USC agrees to $215M settlement

LOS ANGELES — The University of Southern California has agreed to pay $215 million to settle a federal lawsuit filed by hundreds of women who say they were sexually abused by the former head gynecologist at the student health center and that school officials did not address their complaints.

The settlement, which still needs to be approved by the court, would be among the largest to be reached by a university facing accusations of sexual misconduct. Still, it is unlikely to end the school’s legal battles over the issue. Nearly 500 women have sued USC claiming mistreatment by the gynecologist, Dr. George Tyndall.

More than 90 of his former patients came forward for the first time this week, saying he had molested them.

Under the settlement, thousands of women who were patients of Tyndall during his three decades at USC would be eligible for $2,500 payments, whether or not they have alleged abuse. Women who allege the worse abuse and offer additional information would be eligible for up to $20,000, while those willing to be screened by a psychologist could receive a maximum of $250,000.

After an university investigation concluded the doctor’s behavior had amounted to sexually harassing patients, Tyndall reached an agreement with the school and resigned with a payout in 2017. Although the report found that complaints had come in since at least 2000, USC officials did not report the findings to the state medical board or any of his former patients.

After an outcry, the university president, C.L. Max Nikias, stepped down this year.

The interim president, Wanda Austin, sent a letter announcing the settlement Friday to students and faculty and staff members, calling it “an important step forward” that she hopes will “help our community move collectively toward reconciliation.”

Money for the settlement would come from reserve funds and the university’s insurance, according to a USC website.

Former patients of Tyndall’s have accused him of abusive practices, including invasive and unnecessary pelvic exams, touching their vaginas, asking them to undress in front of him and making sexually explicit remarks about women’s bodies.

He has denied all allegations of harassment and mistreatment.

The state medical board suspended his license in August. The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating possible criminal charges.