The university stated that 1,050 people would share in the settlement. It was reached through mediation. The university did not provide any input to the decision making process. Instead, individuals and their lawyers will decide how to divide $460 million. For future claims, an additional $30 million is set aside.
Jordan Acker, Chair of the University of Michigan Board of Regents stated that “we hope this settlement will start the healing process for survivors.” “At the exact same time, we will continue the work that started two years ago when the first brave survivors came forward.”
Parker Stinar, attorney, said that the settlement had been reached the night before. The university was in mediation to settle multiple lawsuits brought by mostly men alleging that Dr. Robert Anderson abused them during routine medical exams.
Stinar, who represents approximately 200 victims, said, “It was a long, difficult journey. I believe that this settlement will provide justice for the many brave men, women, and children who refused to be silenced.”
Tad DeLuca was the whistleblower who sent a letter to Warde Manuel, Michigan’s athletic director, alleging sexual assault. Anderson received an investigation and concluded that there was no satisfaction in the settlement. He also stated that it will not address the deeper issues.
DeLuca stated Wednesday morning that the settlement was going to gloss over things so Michigan can have a shiny block M’ again and look great for the world. However, the situation on campus has become dire.
Anderson was a university employee from 1966 to his retirement in 2003. He was the director of the university’s Health Service, as well as a physician for several athletic teams including football. Anderson, who was killed in 2008, is accused of sexually abusing a number of football players as well as other athletes.
The school hired a consulting firm to review the report. It found that Anderson’s 37-year career was void of many opportunities for staff to stop him.
Regularly, the university is ranked amongst the best public universities in the U.S.
Anderson allegedly assaulted two men in a sexual assault allegation. Anderson’s weekend firing of Mark Schlissel, the university president, led to the agreement.
Robert Stone and Keith Moree told reporters Tuesday that Ann Arbor School is ready for culture change. The school’s board is conducting a search for Schlissel to replace him permanently. Schlissel was fired Saturday after an alleged “inappropriate” relationship with a university employee.
Following sex abuse scandals on campuses, universities have reached a variety of settlements with victims, including the $500 million payment by Michigan State University to cover claims by more than 300 girls and women who claimed they were assaulted in sex by Larry Nassar. He was also a campus doctor and a doctor for USA Gymnastics.
The settlement was announced in May 2018 and was far larger than the $100 million that Penn State University paid to settle claims made by at least 35 individuals who claimed Jerry Sandusky, assistant football coach, had abused their children.
The University of Southern California reached an $852 million settlement last year with 700 women who had accused Dr. George Tyndall of sexual abuse.
