The Supreme Court has declined to hear Ohio State University's appeal, paving the way for over 230 men to sue the institution for sexual abuse perpetrated by the late Dr. Richard Strauss. Strauss, a former team doctor at Ohio State, worked at the university from 1978 to 1998. The lawsuits allege that the university failed to act on complaints about Strauss's misconduct, allowing the abuse to continue for decades.
The plaintiffs, many of whom are former student-athletes and alumni, claim Strauss abused them during medical examinations at various locations, including campus athletic facilities, the student health center, Strauss's home, and an off-campus clinic. They argue that the statute of limitations on their claims should not apply because they were unaware of the university's knowledge of Strauss's actions until a 2018 investigation brought the issue to light. They contend that this investigation revealed the university's awareness of the abuse and its failure to protect them, allowing them to file suit within the appropriate timeframe.
Ohio State had previously settled with nearly 300 individuals for over $60 million in 2018. However, the university argued that any new cases should be dismissed due to the expiration of the statute of limitations. The Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals disagreed, reviving the dismissed lawsuits, a decision now upheld by the Supreme Court's refusal to hear the case. Strauss died by suicide in 2005.
The plaintiffs' legal team expressed satisfaction with the Supreme Court's decision and their anticipation of proceeding with the lawsuits in the trial court. They aim to present their clients' accounts of the abuse and gather further evidence of what they allege was a university cover-up of Strauss's actions.
