Ohio State University Reaches $100 Million Settlement Resolving Most Remaining Strauss Abuse Lawsuits

The Ohio State University agreed on Wednesday to pay $100 million to settle sexual abuse claims brought by 279 former students against former campus physician Dr. Richard Strauss. The settlement covers all but one of 280 pending cases.

Strauss worked at the university from 1978 to 1998 and died by suicide in 2005. An independent report found that Ohio State personnel were aware of complaints against him as early as 1979 but did not intervene. The university’s Board of Trustees approved a preliminary agreement during its Wednesday meeting.

The legal battle began in 2018. In February the university settled with 317 survivors for more than $61 million. University President Ravi Bellamkonda, who assumed the role in March, addressed the plaintiffs during the board meeting.

“The survivors of the Strauss abuse are all Buckeyes, will always be part of our family and our community, and I firmly believe that,” he said. ” The university and plaintiffs issued a joint statement after the vote. “The university’s Board of Trustees has now publicly ratified these agreements in principle, and all parties thank the mediators for their assistance,” the statement said.

Board chair John Zeiger said specific details about individual cases would not be released while mediation continues under a federal court order. “It is important that we respect the court’s order and comply with the mediator’s directive to keep confidentiality in place for now, but we will provide additional information on this resolution when we are in a position to do so,” Zeiger said.

Once finalized, the agreement will end the yearslong litigation.