University to pay victims $500M
LANSING, MICH. — Michigan
State University agreed to pay
$500 million to settle claims from more than 300 women and girls who said they were assaulted by sports doctor
Larry Nassar in the worst sex-abuse case in sports history, officials announced
Wednesday.
The deal surpasses the
$100 million-plus paid by
Penn State University to settle claims by at least 35 people who accused assistant foot- national reputation while ball coach Jerry Sandusky working at the same time of sexual abuse, though the for USA Gymnastics, which Nassar deal involves far more trains Olympians. victims. The university and lawyers
“We are truly sorry to all for 332 victims announced the survivors and their famithe deal after negotiating lies for what they have been privately with the help of a through, and we admire the mediator. Under the agreecourage it has taken to tell ment, $425 million will be their stories,” said Brian paid to current claimants Breslin, chairman of Michiand $75 million will be set gan State’s governing board. aside for any future claims. “We recognize the need for Lawyers will also be comchange on our campus and pensated out of the $500 in our community around million pool. sexual assault awareness Michigan State was and prevention.” accused of ignoring or dis
It’s not clear how much missing complaints about each victim will receive, Nassar, some as far back as although the money will not the 1990s. The school had be divided equally. It’s also insisted that no one covered unclear where the money up assaults, although Nassar’s will come from. University boss, former medical school spokeswoman Emily Guer- dean William Strampel, was rant said school leaders now later charged with failing to will work on a way to pay properly supervise him and the bill. committing his own sexual
Rachael Denhollander of misconduct.
Louisville, Kentucky, who in Nassar, 54, pleaded guilty 2016 was the first woman to to molesting women and girls publicly identify herself as a under the guise of treatment victim, said the agreement and was caught with child “reflects the incredible dampornography. He is serving age which took place on MSU’s three prison sentences that campus.” But she said she still will likely keep him locked has not seen any “meaning- up for life. ful reform” at the university. More than 250 women
Nassar treated campus and girls gave statements athletes and scores of young in court when Nassar was gymnasts at his Michigan sentenced in January and State office, building an inter- February.