Ohio State University has agreed to pay $100 million to settle claims brought by 279 former students who accused the institution of failing to protect them from decades of sexual abuse by former university doctor Richard Strauss.
The settlement marks a major milestone in an eight-year legal battle involving hundreds of former students and athletes who alleged that university officials knew about Strauss’ misconduct but failed to take action. According to a joint statement from the university and attorneys representing the survivors, all but one of the 280 plaintiffs involved in five active federal lawsuits have agreed to the settlement.
Final details of the agreement are still being completed, and a court-appointed special master is expected to interview each survivor in the coming weeks to assess the extent of harm suffered and determine individual compensation amounts.
Ohio State President Ravi Bellamkonda described the resolution as an important step forward for the university and praised the survivors for coming forward with their experiences.
The latest agreement adds to previous settlements reached by the university. Before this deal, Ohio State had already paid more than $61 million to resolve claims from 317 other survivors of Strauss’ abuse.
The university has publicly apologized for the harm caused by Strauss, who served as a physician at Ohio State for decades and died by suicide in 2005. The institution has acknowledged the suffering endured by those who were abused during their time on campus.
The controversy gained national attention in 2018 when former wrestler Mike DiSabato publicly accused Strauss of sexually abusing him and numerous other male athletes during medical examinations. His allegations prompted Ohio State to commission an independent investigation by law firm Perkins Coie.
The investigation concluded in 2019 that Strauss had sexually abused at least 177 male students and athletes from the mid-1970s through the late 1990s. Investigators also found evidence that coaches and university administrators were aware of concerns about Strauss for years but failed to stop the misconduct.
The scandal has also drawn scrutiny toward prominent figures connected to the university, including U.S. Congressman Jim Jordan, who served as an assistant wrestling coach at Ohio State between 1986 and 1994. Several former wrestlers have alleged that Jordan was aware of Strauss’ behavior, allegations he has consistently denied.
Recent court testimony from former athletic director Andy Geiger reportedly suggested that Jordan “probably knew” about the abuse allegations at the time. Jordan has continued to reject those claims, and his deposition related to the lawsuits remains under seal.
The settlement represents one of the largest financial resolutions involving university sexual abuse claims in the United States and brings many survivors closer to obtaining accountability after decades of seeking justice.
